Relationship between spinal biomechanics and pathological changes in the equine thoracolumbar spine.
Abstract: The relationship between spinal biomechanics and pathological changes occurring in functionally normal equine thoracolumbar spines was studied in 23 horses. Ventrolateral vertebral body osteophytes occurred in 36 per cent of the spines. The majority occurred between the 10th and 17th thoracic vertebrae with the largest being found between the 11th and 13th thoracic vertebrae, the region of the thoracic spine where the greatest amount of lateral bending and axial rotation occurs. Impingement of the dorsal spinous processes was detected in 86 per cent of the spines with most lesions occurring between the 13th and 18th thoracic vertebrae. The severity of occurrence of impingement did not appear to be related to regional spinal mobility. Degeneration of intervertebral discs was observed in three of four specimens that were sectioned sagittally. It occurred in the first thoracic and the lumbosacral intervertebral discs and appeared to be related to the increased dorsoventral mobility and the increased disc thickness of these joints. The characteristic distribution of fractures of the thoracolumbar spine is discussed with respect to the biomechanics of the spine.
Publication Date: 1986-03-01 PubMed ID: 3698947DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03559.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study examines the link between the biomechanics of the spine and pathological changes observed in horses’ thoracolumbar spines. The research finds that these changes often occur where the spine has the greatest amount of movement and can lead to degeneration or fractures.
Objective and Methodology
- The objective of the study was to understand the relationship between spinal biomechanics and the pathological changes in horses’ thoracolumbar spines – the part of the spine in a horse’s back that spans the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
- The research team studied 23 horses to get a comprehensive understanding of this relationship.
Findings
- The researchers found that osteophytes, which are bony outgrowths usually formed as a response to joint damage, were present in 36% of the spines. These often occurred between the 10th and 17th thoracic vertebrae, areas where the spine experiences the greatest amount of lateral bending and axial rotation.
- Impingement or interference fractions of the dorsal spinous processes were found in a whopping 86% of the spines, mostly between the 13th and 18th thoracic vertebrae. Despite such a high occurrence, the severity of these impingements did not seem to correlate with regional spinal mobility.
- In slightly more than half the specimens sectioned sagittally for microscopic studies, disc degeneration was observed. These degeneration cases were found at the first thoracic and the lumbosacral intervertebral discs, suggesting a relation to increased dorsoventral mobility and disc thickness at these particular junctions.
Significance
- The study helps to deepen our understanding of how biomechanics can contribute to the pathological changes in the equine thoracolumbar spine.
- Further, it discusses the distribution characteristics of fractures of the thoracolumbar spine with respect to spinal biomechanics.
Cite This Article
APA
Townsend HG, Leach DH, Doige CE, Kirkaldy-Willis WH.
(1986).
Relationship between spinal biomechanics and pathological changes in the equine thoracolumbar spine.
Equine Vet J, 18(2), 107-112.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03559.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Spinal Diseases / pathology
- Spinal Diseases / physiopathology
- Spinal Diseases / veterinary
- Spine / pathology
- Spine / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Alini M, Diwan AD, Erwin WM, Little CB, Melrose J. An update on animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration and low back pain: Exploring the potential of artificial intelligence to improve research analysis and development of prospective therapeutics.. JOR Spine 2023 Mar;6(1):e1230.
- Scilimati N, Angeli G, Di Meo A, Dall'Aglio C, Pepe M, Beccati F. Post-Mortem Computed Tomographic Features of the Most Caudal Lumbar Vertebrae, Anatomical Variations and Acquired Osseous Pathological Changes, in a Mixed Population of Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 19;13(4).
- Zhang X, Yang W, Zheng Z, Wang J, Huang B, Fan S, Wang X, Zhao F. The influence of long-term shoulder loading on sagittal spino-pelvic morphology: a population-based retrospective study of Chinese farmers from radiology.. J Orthop Surg Res 2020 May 29;15(1):196.
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