FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(23); 3732; doi: 10.3390/ani13233732

Radiological Methods for the Imaging of Congenital Malformations of C6-T1, the First and Second Sternal Ribs and Development of a Classification System, Demonstrated in Warmblood Horses.

Abstract: There are conflicting data in studies on malformations of the cervicothoracic (C-T) junction (C6 to T2, including the first and second ribs), but evidence is mounting that they can be of clinical significance for horses. The objectives of this study were to establish a radiographic protocol for imaging the C-T junction in the field and to classify the radiographic variations found in 39 warmblood horses presented for clinical evaluation due to behavioral or performance issues. Malformations of the ventral lamina of C6 and transposition onto the ventral aspect of C7 were seen in 37/39 (94.9%) horses for both conditions. Rib anomalies were found among the horses with C6 and C7 malformations. A missing first rib, unilateral or bilateral, was found in 3/35 (11.4%) horses, a unilateral shortening of the rib in 17/35 (48.6%) horses, a bilateral shortening of the ribs in 12/35 (34.3%) horses, bifid ribs in 3/35 (8.6%) horses, and only 4/35 (11.4%) horses had a normal length of the first rib on both sides. There was a moderately to highly significant association between the grades of left and right malformations of C6 and C7 and first ribs as well as between C6 and C7. A large number of malformations were visualized radiographically at the C-T junction using the newly described methods of latero-lateral and oblique radiographic projections, which allows for these features to be identified in living horses.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-12-02 PubMed ID: 38067084PubMed Central: PMC10705149DOI: 10.3390/ani13233732Google 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.

This research article focuses on the development of a radiographic protocol for imaging and classifying abnormalities in certain spinal segments and first and second ribs in warmblood horses. The study findings revealed a high occurrence of these anomalies and established a strong correlation between spinal deformities and rib abnormalities.

Objectives and Methodology

  • The primary goals of this study were to develop a reliable radiographic procedure for imaging the cervicothoracic (C-T) junction in horses in the field and to categorize the radiographic variations discovered.
  • The researchers concentrated on C6 to T2 spinal segments and the first and second ribs in their investigation.
  • The study was conducted on a sample of 39 warmblood horses, chosen due to reported behavioral or performance issues.
  • The utilized radiographic techniques were latero-lateral and oblique projections that were able to identify the C-T junction malformations in living horses.

Key Findings

  • Anomalies of the ventral lamina of C6 and its transposition onto the ventral aspect of C7 were observed in nearly 95% of horses—37 out of 39, to be precise.
  • They also discovered that rib anomalies noticeably occurred among the horses that exhibited C6 and C7 spinal malformations.
  • They identified different forms of rib abnormalities, including missing first rib (in 11.4% of horses), unilateral shortening of the rib (48.6%), bilateral shortening of the ribs (34.3%), bifid ribs (8.6%), and a small percentage (11.4%) exhibited the normal length of the first rib on both sides.
  • In addition to these findings, the researchers found a significant association between the grades of malformations of C6 and C7 and those of the first ribs. A similar correlation was reported between the deformities of C6 and C7 spinal segments themselves.

Implications of the Study

  • This study provides a framework for a new radiographic protocol that can diagnose C6 to T2 spinal and rib abnormalities in horses, a potentially valuable tool in assessing performance or behavioral issues.
  • By classifying and grading the discovered abnormalities, the researchers have enabled a better understanding of the correlation between C-T junction and rib deformities, which could improve diagnosis and treatment methods in the future.
  • With the high occurrence rate of these malformations, this area may require further research to understand the causes of these deformities, and how to prevent or rectify them to improve the health and performance of such horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Ros KB, Doveren A, Dreessen C, Pellmann R, Beccati F, Zimmermann E, Distl O. (2023). Radiological Methods for the Imaging of Congenital Malformations of C6-T1, the First and Second Sternal Ribs and Development of a Classification System, Demonstrated in Warmblood Horses. Animals (Basel), 13(23), 3732. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233732

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 23
PII: 3732

Researcher Affiliations

Ros, Katharina B
  • Veterinary Clinic PZZ Döhle, 21272 Egestorf, Germany.
Doveren, Aldo
  • Veterinary Clinic, 5113 TA Ulicoten, The Netherlands.
Dreessen, Christie
  • Veterinary Clinic, 5113 TA Ulicoten, The Netherlands.
Pellmann, Ralf
  • Veterinary Clinic, 27367 Hellwege, Germany.
Beccati, Francesca
  • Sports Horse Research Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Zimmermann, Elisa
  • Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Distl, Ottmar
  • Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest and there are no relevant financial or nonfinancial competing interests to report.

References

This article includes 26 references
  1. Gee C, Small A, Shorter K, Brown WY. A Radiographic Technique for Assessment of Morphologic Variations of the Equine Caudal Cervical Spine. Animals 2020;10:667.
    doi: 10.3390/ani10040667pmc: PMC7222808pubmed: 32290538google scholar: lookup
  2. Beccati F, Pepe M, Santinelli I, Gialletti R, Di Meo A, Romero JM. Radiographic findings and anatomical variations of the caudal cervical area in horses with neck pain and ataxia: Case-control study on 116 horses. Vet. Rec. 2020;187:79.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.105756pubmed: 33033105google scholar: lookup
  3. DeRouen A, Spriet M, Aleman M. Prevalence of anatomical variation of the sixth cervical vertebra and association with vertebral canal stenosis and articular process osteoarthritis in the horse. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound 2016;57:253–258.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.12350pubmed: 26915973google scholar: lookup
  4. Santinelli I, Beccati F, Arcelli R, Pepe M. Anatomical variation of the spinous and transverse processes in the caudal cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra in horses. Equine Vet. J. 2016;48:45–49.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12397pubmed: 25471336google scholar: lookup
  5. May-Davis S. Congenital Malformations of the First Sternal Rib. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2017;49:92–100.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2016.09.013google scholar: lookup
  6. May-Davis S. The Occurrence of a Congenital Malformation in the Sixth and Seventh Cervical Vertebrae Predominantly Observed in Thoroughbred Horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2014;34:1313–1317.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2014.09.012google scholar: lookup
  7. May-Davis S, Walker C. Variations and Implications of the Gross Morphology in the Longus colli Muscle in Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred Derivative Horses Presenting with a Congenital Malformation of the Sixth and Seventh Cervical Vertebrae. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2015;35:560–568.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2015.03.002google scholar: lookup
  8. Levine JM, Scrivani PV, Divers TJ, Furr M, Mayhew IJ, Reed S, Levine GJ, Foreman JH, Boudreau C, Credille BC. Multicenter case-control study of signalment, diagnostic features, and outcome associated with cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation in horses. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2010;237:812–822.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.237.7.812pubmed: 20919847google scholar: lookup
  9. Didierlaurent D, Contremoulins V, Denoix JM, Audigié F. Scintigraphic pattern of uptake of 99mTechnetium by the cervical vertebrae of sound horses. Vet. Rec. 2009;164:809–813.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.164.26.809pubmed: 19561351google scholar: lookup
  10. Janes JG, Garrett KS, McQuerry KJ, Pease AP, Williams NM, Reed SM, MacLeod JN. Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging with standing cervical radiographs for evaluation of vertebral canal stenosis in equine cervical stenotic myelopathy. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:681–686.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12221pubmed: 24329734google scholar: lookup
  11. Pepe M, Angelone M, Gialletti R, Nannarone S, Beccati F. Arthroscopic anatomy of the equine cervical articular process joints. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:345–351.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12112pubmed: 23742017google scholar: lookup
  12. Claridge HAH, Piercy RJ, Parry A, Weller R. The 3D anatomy of the cervical articular process joints in the horse and their topographical relationship to the spinal cord. Equine Vet. J. 2010;42:726–731.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00114.xpubmed: 21039803google scholar: lookup
  13. Prange T, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Garcia-Pereira FL. Endoscopic anatomy of the cervical vertebral canal in the horse: A cadaver study. Equine Vet. J. 2011;43:317–323.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00170.xpubmed: 21492209google scholar: lookup
  14. Prange T, Derksen FJ, Stick JA, Garcia-Pereira FL, Carr EA. Cervical vertebral canal endoscopy in the horse: Intra- and post operative observations. Equine Vet. J. 2011;43:404–411.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00310.xpubmed: 21496080google scholar: lookup
  15. Prange T, Carr EA, Stick JA, Garcia-Pereira FL, Patterson JS, Derksen FJ. Cervical vertebral canal endoscopy in a horse with cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy. Equine Vet. J. 2012;44:116–119.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00395.xpubmed: 21696435google scholar: lookup
  16. Mitchell CW, Nykamp S, Foster R, Cruz R, Montieth G. The use of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating horses with spinal ataxia. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound 2012;53:613–620.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2012.01938.xpubmed: 22533785google scholar: lookup
  17. Gerber H, Ueltschi G, Diehl M, Schatzmann U, Straub R. Untersuchungen an der Halswirbelsäule des Pferdes-eine klinisch-radiologische Studie. Schweiz. Arch. Tierheilkd. 1989;131:311–321.
    pubmed: 2772602
  18. Withers JM, Voûte LC, Hammond G, Lischer CJ. Radiographic anatomy of the articular process joints of the caudal cervical vertebrae in the horse on lateral and oblique projections. Equine Vet. J. 2009;41:895–902.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X434107pubmed: 20383988google scholar: lookup
  19. Butler J, Colles C, Dyson S, Kold S, Paulos P. Clinical Radiology of the Horse. 3rd ed. Wiley-Blackwell; Oxford, UK: 2008. The spine.
  20. Veraa S, Bergmann W, van den Belt A-J, Wijnberg I, Back W. Ex vivo computed tomographic evaluation of morphology variations in equine cervical vertebrae. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound 2016;57:482–488.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.12393pubmed: 27438135google scholar: lookup
  21. Veraa S, de Graaf K, Wijnberg ID, Back W, Vernooij H, Nielen M, Belt AJM. Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses. Equine Vet. J. 2020;52:219–224.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13140pmc: PMC7027909pubmed: 31211852google scholar: lookup
  22. Bradley OC. A Case of Rudimentary First Thoracic Rib in a Horse. J. Anat. Physiol. 1901;36:54–62.
    pmc: PMC1287220pubmed: 17232496
  23. May-Davis S, Dzingle D, Saber E, Blades Eckelbarger P. Characterization of the Caudal Ventral Tubercle in the Sixth Cervical Vertebra in Modern Equus ferus caballus. Animals 2023;13:2384.
    doi: 10.3390/ani13142384pmc: PMC10376820pubmed: 37508161google scholar: lookup
  24. 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.
    doi: 10.1111/joa.13456pmc: PMC8450477pubmed: 33991425google scholar: lookup
  25. Rovel T, Coudry V, Denoix JM, Audigie F. Synostosis of the first and second ribs in six horses. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2018;253:611–616.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.253.5.611pubmed: 30110211google scholar: lookup
  26. Rosenberg E. Über eine primitive Form der Wirbelsäule des Menschen. Morphol. Jahrb. 1899;27:1–118.

Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. DeClue A, Workman K, May-Davis S. Identifying by Radiograph Grade 4 Aplasia of the Caudal Lamina Ventralis in the Equine Sixth Cervical Vertebra and Three Coinciding Morphological Variations. Animals (Basel) 2026 Feb 4;16(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16030482pubmed: 41681463google scholar: lookup
  2. Strootmann T, Peter VG, Körner J. Radiographic Prevalence of Anatomical Variations of the Ventral Lamina of the Sixth Cervical Vertebra, C6/C7 Articular Process Joint Modelling and Competition Outcomes in Warmblood Sport Horses. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 29;16(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16030424pubmed: 41681407google scholar: lookup
  3. Dyson S, Phillips K, Zheng S, Aleman M. Congenital variants of the ventral laminae of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae are not associated with clinical signs or other radiological abnormalities of the cervicothoracic region in Warmblood horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):419-430.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14127pubmed: 38938125google scholar: lookup
  4. May-Davis S, Eckelbarger PB, Dzingle D, Saber E. Characterization and Association of the Missing Ventral Tubercle(s) from the Sixth Cervical Vertebra and Transpositions on the Ventral Surface of the Seventh Cervical Vertebra in Modern Equus ferus caballus. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 20;14(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14121830pubmed: 38929448google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.