Radiographic retrospective study of the caudal cervical articular process joints in the horse.
Abstract: Arthropathy of the caudal cervical articular process joints (APJs) in the horse is documented as a cause of ataxia and paresis secondary to spinal cord compression. Enlargement of the caudal APJs is reported to increase with age, but there are no known associations of any other factors. No association of the degree of APJ enlargement with neurological signs seen has been documented. This study investigated the associations of cervical APJ enlargement at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 articulations with case subject details (breed, age, sex, usage) and clinical signs. Objective: To ascertain if there are of any associations between: the subject details and enlargement of the caudal cervical APJs; and the degree of APJ enlargement and the presence and type of clinical signs. Objective: There would be an effect of age, breed and usage on APJ grade, with no effect of sex. Association between grade and clinical signs seen was also investigated. Methods: The radiographs of 122 horses qualified for inclusion. Horses were excluded if they were known to have a neck lesion cranial to C5-C6, or if the radiographs were rotated or of poor quality. In order to standardise the interpretation of APJ enlargement, a novel grading system was developed and used. Results: An association was found between age and APJ grade at C5-C6 but not C6-C7. There was no association between grade, breed, sex and usage, or clinical signs seen. Data also showed a trend for increasing enlargement the more caudal the APJ. Conclusions: The data in this study support that the size of the caudal cervical APJ at the level of C5-C6, appear to increase with age, but this enlargement may not be significant. Enlargement cannot be associated with breed, sex or discipline of the horse at present, and specific grades and therefore degree of enlargement, cannot necessarily be assumed to be the cause of neurological deficits.
Publication Date: 2009-10-07 PubMed ID: 19803045DOI: 10.2746/042516409x391015Google 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.
This research article investigates the links between certain factors (like age, breed, and usage) and the enlargement of the caudal cervical articular process joints (APJs) in horses. The study also examines the relationship between the extent of APJ enlargement and occurrence of clinical signs. The study concludes that while APJ size may increase with age, such an enlargement may not be significant and it cannot be associated with a horse’s breed, sex, or discipline.
Objective & Hypothesis
- The research aimed to determine if there were any correlations between a horse’s age, breed, sex, and usage and the enlargement of their caudal cervical APJs. Additionally, it aimed to investigate if there was any connection between the degree of APJ enlargement and the presence and type of clinical signs (such as ataxia and paresis).
- The hypothesis was that the age, breed, and usage of the horse might influence the APJ grade, but sex would not. They also hypothesized that grade could have some connection to the clinical symptoms observed.
Methodology
- 122 horse radiographs were selected for the study. Horses with neck lesions cranial to C5-C6 or poor-quality or rotatory radiographs were excluded from it.
- To maintain consistency in the interpretation of the APJ enlargement, a unique grading system was developed for the study.
Results
- An association was found between the age of the horse and the APJ grade at C5-C6 but not at C6-C7.
- No correlation was found between the APJ grade and the breed, sex, and usage of the horse or the occurrence of clinical signs.
- The data also suggested a trend depicting an increase in enlargement as the APJs get further down the cervical area (more caudal).
Conclusion
- According to the study, the size of the caudal cervical APJs at C5-C6 appears to increase as horses age. However, it is stressed that such enlargement may not carry significant implications.
- The findings also indicated that there can currently be no association made between APJ enlargement and the breed, sex, or discipline of the horse.
- Additionally, the research noted that the degree of enlargement (or specific grades) can’t be assumed as the cause of neurological conditions in these horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Down SS, Henson FM.
(2009).
Radiographic retrospective study of the caudal cervical articular process joints in the horse.
Equine Vet J, 41(6), 518-524.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x391015 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, The University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
- Cervical Vertebrae / injuries
- Cervical Vertebrae / pathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Radiography
- Retrospective Studies
- Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Spinal Diseases / pathology
- Spinal Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Story MR, Nout-Lomas YS, Aboellail TA, Selberg KT, Barrett MF, Mcllwraith CW, Haussler KK. Dangerous Behavior and Intractable Axial Skeletal Pain in Performance Horses: A Possible Role for Ganglioneuritis (14 Cases; 2014-2019).. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:734218.
- Story MR, Haussler KK, Nout-Lomas YS, Aboellail TA, Kawcak CE, Barrett MF, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW. Equine Cervical Pain and Dysfunction: Pathology, Diagnosis and Treatment.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 6;11(2).
- Gough SL, Anderson JDC, Dixon JJ. Computed tomographic cervical myelography in horses: Technique and findings in 51 clinical cases.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2142-2151.
- Touzot-Jourde G, Geffroy O, Tallaj A, Gauthier O, Denoix JM. Ultrasonography-Guided Perineural Injection of the Ramus ventralis of the 7 and 8th Cervical Nerves in Horses: A Cadaveric Descriptive Pilot Study.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:102.
- Rijckaert J, Raes E, Buczinski S, Dumoulin M, Deprez P, Van Ham L, van Loon G, Pardon B. Accuracy of transcranial magnetic stimulation and a Bayesian latent class model for diagnosis of spinal cord dysfunction in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):964-971.
- 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.
- Rijckaert J, Pardon B, Saey V, Raes E, Van Ham L, Ducatelle R, van Loon G, Deprez P. Determination of magnetic motor evoked potential latency time cutoff values for detection of spinal cord dysfunction in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2312-2318.
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
