Radiographic findings and anatomical variations of the caudal cervical area in horses with neck pain and ataxia: case-control study on 116 horses.

This study explores a possible link between certain anatomical abnormalities in horses’ cervical vertebra and symptoms of neck pain and loss of balance, or ataxia. The investigation centered around how these abnormalities might place stress on the joints of the cervicothoracic junction, potentially causing these symptoms.

Study Purpose and Design

• The purpose of the research was to examine a hypothesis stating abnormalities in the ventral lamina of the sixth cervical vertebra (AVL-C6) might cause irregular stress on the joints in the horse’s neck, which in turn might lead to signs of neck pain and ataxia.
• The researchers performed a retrospective review of the medical records and radiographs of horses who underwent cervical radiography, classifying them into three groups: horses with neck pain (group C), horses with ataxia (group A), and healthy horses (group H).

Methodology

• The study used logistic regression analysis to identify any relationships between the presence of AVL-C6 and radiographic findings and the dependent variables of neck pain and ataxia.
• Occurrences of AVL-C6 and any increase in size, dysplasia, remodelling, fragmentation, and osteochondral fragments at the articular process joints (APJs, C5-T1) were recorded for each horse.
• Those variables with a P-value less than 0.2 were considered significant enough to include in the multivariable analysis.

Results

• 116 horses were included in the final analysis: 44 in the neck pain group, 29 in the ataxia group, and 66 in the control group.
• 24 out of the 116 horses exhibited radiographic evidence of AVL-C6.
• The final models contained three variables: age, AVL-C6, and an overall/C6-C7 increase in size.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that the presence of AVL-C6 and a moderate to severe increase in the size of the caudal cervical APJs elevate the likelihood of a horse exhibiting neck pain.
• If these changes are severe, there is also an increased probability of ataxia in the affected horses.