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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Relationship between spinal biomechanics and pathological ch...
Equine veterinary journal1986; 18(2); 107-112; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03559.x

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.
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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

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.

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

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Pages: 107-112

Researcher Affiliations

Townsend, H G
    Leach, D H
      Doige, C E
        Kirkaldy-Willis, W H

          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 9 times.
          1. 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.
            doi: 10.1002/jsp2.1230pubmed: 36994457google scholar: lookup
          2. 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).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13040743pubmed: 36830530google scholar: lookup
          3. 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.
            doi: 10.1186/s13018-020-01698-3pubmed: 32471454google scholar: lookup
          4. 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
          5. Connaughton MT, MacDonald EJ, Ireland JL, Rocchigiani G, Stack JD. Experimental comparison of caudal wedge ostectomy to cranial wedge ostectomy for surgical treatment of overriding/impinging spinous processes in horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1395-1404.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14498pubmed: 40110991google scholar: lookup
          6. de Secondi C, Cantatore F, Marcatili M, Biggi M, Withers J, de Zani D, Zani D. Spondylosis in Horses: Clinical Features, Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment and Outcome in 13 Horses. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70196.
            doi: 10.1002/vms3.70196pubmed: 40109022google scholar: lookup
          7. Spoormakers TJP, Veraa S, Graat EAM, van Weeren PR, Brommer H. Osseous pathologic changes in the thoracic region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post-mortem study in three breeds. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1290-1301.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14429pubmed: 39433426google scholar: lookup
          8. Domańska-Kruppa N, Wierzbicka M, Stefanik E. Advances in the Clinical Diagnostics to Equine Back Pain: A Review of Imaging and Functional Modalities. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 23;14(5).
            doi: 10.3390/ani14050698pubmed: 38473083google scholar: lookup
          9. Murphy K, Lufkin T, Kraus P. Development and Degeneration of the Intervertebral Disc-Insights from Across Species. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 24;10(9).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci10090540pubmed: 37756062google scholar: lookup
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