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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.
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Publication Date: 2023-12-08 PubMed ID: 38069484DOI: 10.1111/evj.14033Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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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.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. 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.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14429pubmed: 39433426google scholar: lookup
  2. 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.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14426pubmed: 39428125google scholar: lookup
  3. 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.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14422pubmed: 39390752google scholar: lookup
  4. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14050698pubmed: 38473083google scholar: lookup
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