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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Radiological prevalence of osteoarthritis of the cervical re...
Equine veterinary journal2021; 53(5); 972-978; doi: 10.1111/evj.13383

Radiological prevalence of osteoarthritis of the cervical region in 104 performing Warmblood jumpers.

Abstract: Cervical osteoarthritis (OA) has been documented as a potential source of pain and poor performance in sport horses. Objective: To assess the prevalence of cervical OA in a population of Warmblood jumpers and its correlation with age, level of performance, neck pain and mobility. Methods: Descriptive observational study. Methods: Warmblood jumpers free of lameness or neurological disorders were selected. Cervical pain and range of motion of the neck were subjectively assessed. Left to right lateral views were taken at C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. The presence of OA at the cervical articular process joints (APJs) was evaluated and graded as absent, mild or moderate to severe by three board-certified radiologists. The agreement between radiologists and the potential associations between OA grades with age and other variables were statistically assessed (P < .05). Results: One hundred and four horses were included [median age = 10 years (range 6-18 years)]. Agreement between radiologists varied from fair to substantial (Kappa-weighted 0.37-0.61). The C6-C7 APJ was most commonly affected by OA with only 32.7% of APJ considered free of radiographic abnormalities at this location versus 60.5% at C5-C6, 81.7% at C4-C5 and 84.6% at C3-C4. Horses competing in higher level classes (peak of performance) had significantly higher OA grades at C6-C7 (P = .013). There was no association between age, age when started jumping, neck pain and neck range of motion with the presence of OA on radiographs. Conclusions: Open enrolment and lack of orthogonal views. Conclusions: This study showed that, although there is a range of interpretation of radiographic findings of the APJ, OA of the caudal cervical region is not rare in performing sound Warmblood jumpers. This suggests that OA in the caudal cervical region may be of low clinical significance.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-11 PubMed ID: 33174228DOI: 10.1111/evj.13383Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study
  • Veterinary

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 examines the extent of neck osteoarthritis in Warmblood jumper horses, examining its link to age, performance level, and neck pain and mobility. It concludes that osteoarthritis in the lower part of the neck is fairly common among these performing horses, but it may not be of great clinical importance.

Research Methodology

  • The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of cervical osteoarthritis (OA) in a specific group of horses known as Warmblood jumpers. The study also sought to investigate the connection between OA, age, performance level, and neck pain/mobility.
  • A total of 104 Warmblood jumpers, who showed no signs of lameness or neurological diseases, were used in this study.
  • The researchers performed a pain assessment and checked the horses’ neck motion ranges, following which they took lateral (side) view radiographs at various points in their necks (C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, and C6-C7).
  • The radiographs were evaluated by three board-certified radiologists, who assessed the presence of OA in the articular process joints (APJs) of the cervical region. The severity of the OA was graded as absent, mild, or moderate to severe.
  • The researchers performed a statistical analysis to find any possible correlations between the severity of OA and factors such as age and performance.

Findings of the study

  • The radiologists’ agreement on the OA grades ranged from fair to substantial.
  • The most common location in the neck for OA was the C6-C7 APJ, with only 32.7% of this joint showing no signs of OA. This prevalence decreased for the other points checked, with 60.5% of C5-C6, 81.7% of C4-C5, and 84.6% of C3-C4 being free of OA.
  • It was revealed that horses performing at higher levels showed significantly greater grades of OA at the C6-C7 position.
  • There was no identified link between factors like age, when the horse started jumping, neck pain, or neck movement range with the presence of OA on the radiographs.

Conclusions from the study

  • The study acknowledged limitations due to open enrolment and the lack of orthogonal views.
  • The researchers concluded that, although interpretation of the radiographic findings varied, it was not rare to find OA in the lower part of the neck (caudal cervical region) in Warmblood jumpers.
  • The overall suggestion from the study is that OA in this area may not hold a lot of clinical significance, despite its prevalence.

Cite This Article

APA
Espinosa-Mur P, Phillips KL, Galuppo LD, DeRouen A, Benoit P, Anderson E, Shaw K, Puchalski S, Peters D, Kass PH, Spriet M. (2021). Radiological prevalence of osteoarthritis of the cervical region in 104 performing Warmblood jumpers. Equine Vet J, 53(5), 972-978. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13383

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 5
Pages: 972-978

Researcher Affiliations

Espinosa-Mur, Pablo
  • Stephansmuehle Pferdepraxis, Hilpoltstein, Germany.
Phillips, Kathryn L
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Galuppo, Larry D
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
DeRouen, Anthony
  • Puchalski Equine Diagnostic Imaging, Petaluma, California, USA.
Benoit, Philippe
  • EquiSport Consulting, Wellington, Florida, USA.
Anderson, Eleanor
  • Circle Oak Equine, Petaluma, California, USA.
Shaw, Karen
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
Puchalski, Sarah
  • Puchalski Equine Diagnostic Imaging, Petaluma, California, USA.
Peters, Duncan
  • East-West Equine Sports Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Kass, Philip H
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
Spriet, Mathieu
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Neck
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis / epidemiology
  • Osteoarthritis / veterinary
  • Prevalence
  • Radiography
  • Range of Motion, Articular

Grant Funding

  • Sport Horses Research Foundation

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. 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
  2. Boado A, Pollard D, Lopez-Sanroman FJ, Dyson S. Orthopaedic Injuries in 272 Dressage Horses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 14;15(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15202972pubmed: 41153899google scholar: lookup
  3. Nocera I, Di Franco C, Sorvillo B, Aliboni B, Bucchioni E, Sgorbini M, Sala G, Citi S. Evaluation of the feasibility of equine in-vivo ultrasound technique for the medial branch of the dorsal ramus of the cervical spinal nerves. Vet Q 2024 Dec;44(1):1-5.
    doi: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2403456pubmed: 39267500google scholar: lookup
  4. 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
  5. Dyson S, Zheng S, Aleman M. Primary phenotypic features associated with caudal neck pathology in warmblood horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2380-2390.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17125pubmed: 38829000google scholar: lookup
  6. Gisler J, Chiavaccini L, Blum S, Montavon S, Spadavecchia C. Pressure pain mapping of equine distal joints: feasibility and reliability. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1342954.
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  7. Zimmermann E, Ros KB, Pfarrer C, Distl O. Historic Horse Family Displaying Malformations of the Cervicothoracic Junction and Their Connection to Modern German Warmblood Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 3;13(21).
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  8. Kondo T, Sato F, Tsuzuki N, Watanabe K, Horiuchi N, Kobayashi Y, Yamada K. Characteristic computed tomographic myelography findings in 23 Thoroughbred horses. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Apr 13;84(4):525-532.
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  9. Fernández-Martín S, González-Cantalapiedra A, Muñoz F, García-González M, Permuy M, López-Peña M. Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate: Is There Any Scientific Evidence for Their Effectiveness as Disease-Modifying Drugs in Knee Osteoarthritis Preclinical Studies?-A Systematic Review from 2000 to 2021. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 29;11(6).
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