Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations: clinical and radiographic features in 77 horses with poor performance and back pain.
Abstract: Back pain is well recognised as a cause of poor performance in horses, but the role of lesions of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations (facet joints) has not been well documented. Objective: To describe the clinical features, radiographic appearance and location of facet joint lesions and determine if there was any breed, gender, age, bodyweight or work discipline predilection. Methods: Data from 77 horses examined at the Animal Health Trust January 1997-September 2007 with evidence of thoracolumbar pain and radiographic changes of the facet joints were reviewed. The presence of either other osseous abnormalities of the thoracolumbar region or other problems potentially contributing to poor performance were recorded. Facet joint lesions were graded radiographically and their location determined. Influence of breed, gender and discipline on the presence of lesions, effect of location on the type of lesion and the influence of impinging dorsal spinous processes on the clinical features were assessed using Chi-squared tests. Results: There was no effect of breed, gender, age or bodyweight on occurrence of facet joint lesions. Showjumpers were significantly less affected than horses from other disciplines. There were commonly 2-5 affected facet joints, usually in the caudal thoracic and cranial lumbar spine (T15-LI). Sclerosis, periarticular new bone and narrowing of the joint space were the most frequent radiographic lesion types. Clinical features were significantly different between horses with and without impinging dorsal spinous processes. Severity of clinical signs was related to the presence of other osseous abnormalities, not the number of facet joints involved or the lesion grade. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis of the facet joints of the thoracolumbar spine can occur alone, in horses with back pain, or in association with other osseous abnormalities. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar facet joints probably contributes to back pain, but further investigation of the prevalence of osteoarthritis in horses without clinical signs of back pain is merited.
Publication Date: 2009-05-08 PubMed ID: 19418740DOI: 10.2746/042516408x345099Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The study aims to describe the clinical features, radiographic appearance, and location of lesions in the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations (facet joints) of horses. The research found that such lesions probably contribute to back pain, regardless of breed, gender, age, bodyweight, or work discipline. However, showjumpers were significantly less affected than horses from other disciplines.
Research Methodology:
- Researchers conducted a review of data from 77 horses, studied at the Animal Health Trust from January 1997 to September 2007, which showed signs of thoracolumbar pain and radiographic changes of the facet joints.
- They recorded the presence of other osseous abnormalities of the thoracolumbar region and assessed whether these could potentially contribute to poor performance.
- The team graded facet joint lesions based on radiographic results and determined their locations.
- With the use of Chi-squared tests, the study also assessed the influence of breed, gender, discipline, lesion location, and the effect of impinging dorsal spinous processes on the recorded clinical features.
Study Findings:
- No significant influence of breed, gender, age, or bodyweight on the occurrence of facet joint lesions was identified.
- Showjumpers were markedly less affected compared to horses engaged in other disciplines.
- Commonly, horses had 2-5 affected facet joints, typically present in the caudal thoracic and cranial lumbar spine (T15-L1).
- Sclerosis, periarticular new bone, and narrowing of the joint space were the most common types of radiographic lesions.
- Significant differences were found in clinical features between horses with and without impinging dorsal spinous processes.
Study Conclusions:
- Osteoarthritis of the facet joints can occur alone in horses with back pain or in association with other osseous abnormalities.
- The severity of clinical signs was not related to the number of facet joints involved or the lesion grade, but to the presence of other osseous abnormalities.
- Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar facet joints likely contributes to back pain in horses. However, further research is required to investigate this osteoarthritis’s prevalence among horses that do not show clinical signs of back pain.
Cite This Article
APA
Girodroux M, Dyson S, Murray R.
(2009).
Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations: clinical and radiographic features in 77 horses with poor performance and back pain.
Equine Vet J, 41(2), 130-138.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408x345099 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthrography / methods
- Arthrography / veterinary
- Back Pain / diagnostic imaging
- Back Pain / etiology
- Back Pain / pathology
- Back Pain / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joint Diseases / complications
- Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
- Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
- Male
- Osteoarthritis / complications
- Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Spinal Diseases / complications
- Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Spinal Diseases / pathology
- Spinal Diseases / veterinary
- Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
- Thoracic Vertebrae / pathology
- Zygapophyseal Joint / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Boado A, Pollard D, Lopez-Sanroman FJ, Dyson S. Orthopaedic Injuries in 272 Dressage Horses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 14;15(20).
- Medina-Bautista F, Nocera I, Sánchez de Medina A, Di Franco C, Briganti A, Morgaz J, Granados MDM. An Ultrasound-Guided Thoracolumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block: An Experimental Preliminary Study in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 1;15(15).
- Boado A, Pollard D, Dyson S. A Retrospective Study of the Evolution of Orthopaedic Injuries in 70 Dressage Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 12;15(12).
- Shokry M, Ali LB, El-Sharkawy M. Relationship between back pain and poor performance in show jumping athletic horses. Open Vet J 2025 Mar;15(3):1480-1487.
- Spoormakers TJP, Veraa S, Graat EAM, van Weeren PR, Brommer H. Osseous pathologic changes in the thoracic region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post-mortem study in three breeds. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1290-1301.
- Ogden NKE, Winderickx K, Stack JD. Computed tomography of the equine caudal spine and pelvis. Pathological findings in 56 clinical cases (2018-2023). Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1279-1289.
- Ogden NKE, Winderickx K, Bennell A, Stack JD. Computed tomography of the equine caudal spine and pelvis: Technique, image quality and anatomical variation in 56 clinical cases (2018-2023). Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1265-1278.
- Domańska-Kruppa N, Wierzbicka M, Stefanik E. Advances in the Clinical Diagnostics to Equine Back Pain: A Review of Imaging and Functional Modalities. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 23;14(5).
- Scilimati N, Angeli G, Di Meo A, Dall'Aglio C, Pepe M, Beccati F. Post-Mortem Computed Tomographic Features of the Most Caudal Lumbar Vertebrae, Anatomical Variations and Acquired Osseous Pathological Changes, in a Mixed Population of Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 19;13(4).
- Maldonado MD, Parkinson SD, Story MR, Haussler KK. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Limb Lameness and Concurrent Axial Skeleton Pain and Dysfunction in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 19;12(20).
- Spoormakers TJP, Veraa S, Graat EAM, van Weeren PR, Brommer H. A comparative study of breed differences in the anatomical configuration of the equine vertebral column. J Anat 2021 Oct;239(4):829-838.
- Romness N, Fenner K, McKenzie J, Anzulewicz A, Burattini B, Wilson B, McGreevy P. Associations between Owners' Reports of Unwanted Ridden Behaviour and In-Hand Behaviour in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 18;10(12).
- Mayaki AM, Abdul Razak IS, Adzahan NM, Mazlan M, Rasedee A. Clinical assessment and grading of back pain in horses. J Vet Sci 2020 Nov;21(6):e82.
- Haussler KK, Pool RR, Clayton HM. Characterization of bony changes localized to the cervical articular processes in a mixed population of horses. PLoS One 2019;14(9):e0222989.
- Mayaki AM, Intan-Shameha AR, Noraniza MA, Mazlina M, Adamu L, Abdullah R. Clinical investigation of back disorders in horses: A retrospective study (2002-2017). Vet World 2019;12(3):377-381.
- Euppayo T, Punyapornwithaya V, Chomdej S, Ongchai S, Nganvongpanit K. Effects of hyaluronic acid combined with anti-inflammatory drugs compared with hyaluronic acid alone, in clinical trials and experiments in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2017 Sep 6;18(1):387.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
