FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Post-mortem ultrasonographic and computed tomographic featur...
Equine veterinary journal2023; doi: 10.1111/evj.14033

Post-mortem ultrasonographic and computed tomographic features of the anatomical variations and acquired pathological bony changes of the lumbosacroiliac region in a mixed population of horses.

Abstract: Transrectal ultrasonography is the best technique for evaluating the ventral aspect of the lumbosacral and sacroiliac regions yet this diagnostic technique does not always lead to a final diagnosis of back pain in horses. Objective: To describe anatomical variations and acquired pathological bony changes (APBCs) in the lumbosacral and sacroiliac regions detected by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) examinations on specimens. We hypothesised that age, body mass, previous use and anatomical variations may be correlated with the presence and/or severity of APBCs. Methods: Descriptive cadaver study. Methods: Lumbosacroiliac specimens were obtained from 51 horses that died or were euthanised for reasons other than the study and underwent US and CT examinations post-mortem. Results: Forty-two specimens were analysed. The most prevalent lumbosacral disc morphology was type 2 (21/42), and protrusions were found in 15/42 specimens. Abnormal echogenicity of the L5-L6 and lumbosacral discs was detected in 11/42 and 30/42 specimens, respectively. Abnormalities in the size of the L5-L6 disc were found in 10/42 specimens and correlated with promontorium localisation (Cramér's V coefficient [V] = 0.42) and lumbosacral disc morphology (type 1: V = 0.41; type 5: V = 0.69). The most prevalent orientation of the L6 spinous process (SP) was convergent (24/42). The promontoria were mostly located between L6 and S1 (36/42). Lumbosacral spondylosis was detected in 24/42 specimens and spondylolisthesis in one. Age was associated with the severity of APBCs in the sacroiliac joints, lumbosacral intertransverse joints, articular process joints, spondylosis and L6 or S1 bone plate irregularities. Lumbosacral spondylosis or L6 extremitas caudalis irregularity was associated with lumbosacral angulation, variability in the size of the L5-L6 disc and localisation of the promontorium, L6 SP orientation and L6 extremitas caudalis irregularity with abnormal echogenicity of the LS disc. Conclusions: Lack of information on clinical signs. Conclusions: High variability and prevalence of the anatomical variations and APBCs in the lumbosacroiliac region were observed, and correlations between some anatomical variations and APBCs and between APBCs and age were reported.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-12-08 PubMed ID: 38069484DOI: 10.1111/evj.14033Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 article outlines a study investigating the relationship between anatomical variations, acquired pathological bony changes (APBCs), and factors like age and body mass in the lumbosacral and sacroiliac regions of horses, using post-mortem ultrasonography and computed tomography. The findings reveal a high variability and prevalence of anatomical variations and APBCs, with some correlations found between the variations, APBCs, and age.

Objective

  • The study aimed to better understand the anatomical variations and APBCs in the lumbosacral and sacroiliac regions of horses. The research included ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) examinations of samples taken post-mortem. The authors hypothesized that factors such as a horse’s age, body mass, and previous use might correlate with the presence and severity of these APBCs.

Methods

  • In this descriptive cadaver study, lumbosacroiliac specimens were collected from 51 horses that died or were euthanized for reasons not related to the study. The specimens underwent US and CT examinations post-mortem to detect any anatomical variations or APBCs.

Results

  • Analysis was conducted on 42 specimens. The results showed the most common lumbosacral disc morphology to be type 2 (found in 21/42 specimens).
  • Moreover, other irregularities were also detected including protrusions (found in 15/42 specimens), abnormal echogenicity of the L5-L6 and lumbosacral discs (found in 11/42 and 30/42 specimens, respectively), and abnormalities in the size of the L5-L6 disc (found in 10/42 specimens).
  • Furthermore, the study identified a correlation between these L5-L6 disc size abnormalities with the localization of the promontorium and lumbosacral disc morphology.
  • The specimens also exhibited formations such as lumbosacral spondylosis (detected in 24/42 specimens) and spondylolisthesis (found in one specimen).
  • A notable observation in this study was the positive correlation between the severity of APBCs in specific regions and the age of the horses.

Conclusions

  • Despite the inability to link the findings with clinical signs due to the post-mortem nature of the study, a high variability and prevalence of anatomical variations and APBCs were observed in the lumbosacroiliac region.
  • A pre-existing correlation was confirmed by this study between some anatomical variations and APBCs, and between APBCs and age.

Cite This Article

APA
Scilimati N, Beccati F, Pepe M, Angeli G, Dall'Aglio C, Di Meo A. (2023). Post-mortem ultrasonographic and computed tomographic features of the anatomical variations and acquired pathological bony changes of the lumbosacroiliac region in a mixed population of horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14033

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Scilimati, Nicola
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Beccati, Francesca
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
  • Sport Horse Research Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Pepe, Marco
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
  • Sport Horse Research Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Angeli, Giovanni
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Dall'Aglio, Cecilia
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Di Meo, Antonio
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

References

This article includes 35 references
  1. Brown K. Pelvic fractures. 2008;p. 488-491.
  2. Dabareiner RM, Cole CC. Fractures of the tuber coxae of the ilium in horses: 29 cases (1996-2007). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009;243:1303-1307.
  3. Dyson SJ. Pelvic injuries in the non-racehorses. 2011;p. 488-491.
  4. Clayton HM, Stubbs NC. Enthesophytosis and impingement of the dorsal spinous processes in the equine thoracolumbar spine. J Equine Vet 2016;47:9-16.
  5. Denoix JM. Review of diagnosis and treatment of lumbosacral pain in sport and racehorses. Proc Am Assoc Equine Practnrs 2005;51:366-373.
  6. Denoix JM. Ultrasonographic evaluation of back lesions. Vet Clin N Am Equine Pract 1999;15:131-159.
  7. Vautravers G, Coudry V, Denoix JM. Review of the use of transrectal ultrasonography for evaluation of the caudal lumbar - including lumbosacral - intervertebral discs and symphyses: Normal and abnormal ultrasonographic appearance. Equine Vet Educ 2021;33:310-319.
  8. Bergman EHJ, Puchalski SM, Denoix JM. How to perform a transrectal ultrasound examination of the lumbosacral and sacroiliac joints. Proc Am Assoc Equine Practnrs 2013;59:229-237.
  9. Jeffcott LB. Sacroiliac lesions as a cause of chronic poor performance in competitive horses. Equine Vet J 1985;17:111-118.
  10. Dyson SJ, Murray R. Pain associated with the sacroiliac joint region: a clinical study of 74 horses. Equine Vet J 2003;35:240-245.
  11. Goff LM, Jeffcott LB, Jasiewicz J, McGowan CM. Structural and biomechanical aspects of equine sacroiliac joint function and their relationship to clinical disease. Vet J 2008;176:281-293.
  12. Barstow A, Dyson SJ. Clinical features and diagnosis of sacroiliac joint region pain in 296 horses: 2004-2014. Equine Vet Educ 2015;27:637-647.
  13. Haussler KK. Functional anatomy and pathophysiology of sacroiliac joint disease. Proc Am Assoc Equine Practnrs Denver, Colorado, USA, 4-8 December 2004;50:361-366.
  14. Quiney L, Stewart J, Routh J, Dyson SJ. Gross post-mortem and histological features in 27 horses with confirmed lumbosacral region pain and five control horses: a descriptive cadaveric study. Equine Vet J 2022;54:726-739.
  15. Boado A, Nagy A, Dyson SJ. Ultrasonographic features associated with the lumbosacral and lumbar 5-6 symphyses in 64 horses with lumbosacral-sacroiliac joint region pain (2012-2018). Equine Vet Educ 2019;10:136-143.
  16. Krueger CR, Gold J, Barrett MF, Aboellail TA. Diagnosis of lumbosacral intervertebral disc disease and protrusion in a horse using ultrasonographic evaluation and computed tomography. Equine Vet Educ 2016;28:685-689.
  17. Vautravers G, Audigié F, Denoix JM. Prevalences of lumbosacral articulation anatomic variants identified on nuclear scintigraphy and transrectal ultrasonography of Selle Français Warmbloods, French Standardbred Trotters, and Thoroughbreds and agreement between results from the imaging modalities. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022;260:115-123.
  18. Nagy A, Dyson SJ, Barr A. Ultrasonographic findings in the lumbosacral joint of 43 horses with no clinical signs of back pain or hindlimb lameness. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2010;51:533-539.
  19. 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;239:829-838.
  20. Spoormakers TJP, Bergmann W, Veraa S, van Weeren PR, Brommer H. The existence of intertransverse joints in young warmblood foals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022;260:1206-1210.
  21. Veraa S, Bergmann W, Wijnberg ID, Back W, Vernooij H, Nielen M. Equine cervical intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with location and MRI features. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2019;60:696-706.
  22. Barone R. Osteology. 2006;p. 377.
  23. Haussler KK, Stover SM, Willits NH. Developmental variation in lumbosacropelvic anatomy of Thoroughbred racehorses. Am J Vet Res 1997;58:1083-1091.
  24. Scilimati N, Beccati F, Dall'Aglio C, Di Meo A, Pepe M. Age and sex correlate with bony changes and anatomical variations of the lumbosacroiliac region of the vertebral column in a mixed population of horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022;261(2):258-265.
  25. Gorgas D, Kircher P, Doherr MG, Ueltschi G, Lang J. Radiographic technique and anatomy of the equine sacroiliac region. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2007;48:501-506.
  26. 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 2023;13:743.
  27. Haussler KK, Stover SM, Willits NH. Pathologic changes in the lumbosacral vertebrae and pelvis in thoroughbred racehorses. Am J Vet Res 1999;60:143-153.
  28. Jeffcott LB. Disorders of the thoracolumbar spine of the horse - a survey of 443 cases. Equine Vet J 1980;12:197-210.
  29. Ahmad Z, Mobasheri R, Das T, Vaidya S, Mallik S, El-Hussainy M. How to interpret computed tomography of the lumbar spine. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2014;96:502-507.
  30. Townsend HGG, Leach DH, Doige CE, Kirkaldy-Willis WH. Relationship between spinal biomechanics and pathological changes in the equine thoracolumbar spine. Equine Vet J 1986;18:107-112.
  31. Rooney JR. The horse's back: biomechanics of lameness. Vet Clin N Amer Equine Pract 1982;4:17-27.
  32. Denoix JM, Audigié F, Coudry V. Review of diagnosis and treatment of lumbosacral pain in sport and racehorses. Abstract. Proc Am Assoc Equine Practnrs 2005;51:366-373.
  33. Townsend HG, Leach DH, Fretz PB. Kinematics of the equine thoracolumbar spine. Equine Vet J 1983;15:117-122.
  34. Denoix JM. Spinal biomechanics and functional anatomy. Vet Clin N Am Equine Pract 1999;15:27-60.
  35. Dalin G, Jeffcott LB. Sacroiliac joint of the horse. 1. Gross morphology. Anat Histol Embryol 1986;15:80-94.

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.