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Equine veterinary journal2023; doi: 10.1111/evj.13940

Shapes of cervical articular process joints and association with histological evidence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals: A post-mortem study.

Abstract: Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of articular process joints (APJs) is involved in cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVM). Biomechanical forces, important in development of OCD, depend on joint conformation. Oval and flat APJ surfaces are considered normal. Objective: To identify and grade gross shape variation of cervical and cranial thoracic APJ surfaces and determine association with histological evidence of osteochondrosis. Methods: Case series. Methods: Eight hundred and four cervical and cranial thoracic APJ surfaces of 30 foals were evaluated for shape(s) and grades, and were correlated with osteochondrosis. Results: Three top view shapes (oval, pointed, elongated) and seven lateral view shapes (flat, convex, concave, stepped, bevelled, folded edge, raised edge) were regularly encountered. The oval top view shape was most common. Flat and bevelled were the most common lateral view shapes. General shape grade of caudal articular surfaces was significantly higher than of cranial surfaces. The combinations of an oval top view shape and the lateral view shapes folded edge, concave, or flat with additional raised edge and/or folded edge (flat +), were more likely to have OC than oval with convex, bevelled or flat lateral view shapes (normal vs. oval and folded, odds ratio [OR] 2.49 [95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.13-5.67]; normal vs. oval and flat +, OR 2.77 [95% CI 1.15-6.85]; oval and convex vs. oval and folded, OR 3.20 [95% CI 1.35-8.20]; oval and convex vs. oval and flat +, OR 3.56 [95% CI 1.43-9.54]; oval and bevelled vs. oval and concave, OR 2.02 [95% CI 1.14-3.60]; oval and bevelled vs. oval and folded, OR 3.50 [95% CI 1.91-6.60]; oval and bevelled vs. oval and flat +, OR 3.90 [95% CI 2.00-7.70]). Conclusions: Most foals (21/30) were less than 1 month old. Lack of observer reliability scores for shape and shape grade. Conclusions: APJs shape might contribute to CVM by increased likelihood to have OC. Unassigned: Osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) der Facettengelenke (APJs) ist an der zervikalen Kompressionsmyelopathie (CVM) beteiligt. Die biomechanischen Kräfte, die für die Entwicklung der OCD von Bedeutung sind, hängen von der Gelenkskonformation ab. Ovale und flache APJ-Oberflächen werden als normal angesehen. Unassigned: Identifizierung und Einstufung von Formveränderungen der zervikalen und kranialen thorakalen APJ-Oberflächen. Feststellung eines Zusammenhangs mit histologischen Anzeichen von Osteochondrose (OC). Methods: Fallserie. Methods: Zervikale und kraniale thorakale APJ-Oberflächen (804) von 30 Fohlen wurden nach der Form und dem Grad bewertet und mit der Korrelation einer OC bestimmt. Results: Drei Formen in der Ansicht von Oben (oval, spitz, länglich) und 7 Formen in der Seitenansicht (flach, konvex, konkav, gestuft, abgeschrägt, mit gefaltetem oder erhötem Rand) wurden regelmäßig angetroffen. Die ovale Form in der Ansicht von Oben war am häufigsten. In der Aansicht von der Seite waren flache und abgeschrägte Formen am verbreitetsten. Allgemeinen war der Formgrad der kaudalen Gelenkflächen war deutlich höher als jener der kranialen Flächen. Die Kombination einer ovalen Form in der Ansicht von Oben mit einer konkaven, flachen Form mit gefaltetem und/oder erhöthten Rand (flach +), oder mit gefaltete Rand  in derAnsicht von der Seite waren häufiger von OC betroffen als jene mit konvexen, abgeschrägten oder flachen Ansichten von der Seite. Odds Ratio (OR) und 95% Konfidenzintervalle (95% CI) waren wie folgt: OR 2.49 (95% CI 1.13-5.67); normal versus oval und flach +, OR 2. 77 (95% CI 1.15-6.85); oval und konvex versus oval und mit gefaltetem Randt, OR 3.20 (95% CI 1.35-8.20); oval und konvex versus oval und flach +, OR 3.56 (95% CI 1.43-9.54); oval und abgeschrägt versus oval und konkav, OR 2.02 (95% CI 1.14-3.60); oval und abgeschrägt versus oval und mit gefaltetem Rand, OR 3.50 (95% CI 1.91-6.60); oval und abgeschrägt versus oval und flach +, OR 3.90 (95% CI 2.00-7.70). WICHTIGSTE EINSCHRÄNKUNGEN: Die meisten Fohlen (21/30) waren jünger als 1 Monat. Mangelnde Zuverlässigkeit der Werte für Form und Formgrad durch einmalige Messung. Unassigned: Die Form von APJs könnte zur CVM beitragen, indem sie die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer OC-Entwicklung erhöht.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-04-03 PubMed ID: 37010250DOI: 10.1111/evj.13940Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 research investigated how the shapes of cervical articular process joints relate to osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals. Analysis of 804 cervical and cranial thoracic articular process joint surfaces indicated that certain shape configurations were more likely to be associated with osteochondrosis.

Objective and Method

  • The study sought to identify and grade the shapes of cervical and cranial thoracic articular process joints (APJ) surfaces in Warmblood foals, and determine their association with osteochondrosis.
  • The case series method was adopted, with 804 cervical and cranial thoracic APJ surfaces of 30 foals evaluated for shapes and grades.
  • Correlation analysis was performed with osteochondrosis to derive meaningful data.

Findings

  • Researchers encountered three top view shapes (oval, pointed, elongated) and seven lateral view shapes (flat, convex, concave, stepped, bevelled, folded edge, raised edge) on a regular basis.
  • The most common shape on top view was oval, while the lateral view commonly revealed flat and bevelled shapes.
  • The general shape grade of caudal articular surfaces was observed to be significantly higher than that of the cranial surfaces.
  • Certain combinations of shapes were found to be more associated with osteochondrosis. These include an oval top view shape with a folded edge, concave, or flat with additional raised edge and/or folded edge on lateral view.
  • Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to show the significant association between these shapes and osteochondrosis.
  • However, most (21 of 30) foals were less than 1 month old, which could have influenced the results.
  • Another limitation was that there was no observer reliability scores for shape and shape grade.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that articular process joint shape might contribute to cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy by increasing the likelihood of osteochondrosis.
  • However, more research would be required to make substantial conclusions, considering the young age of the majority of the foals and the lack of observer reliability scores.

Cite This Article

APA
Bergmann W, Vernooij JCM, Grinwis GCM, Gröne A. (2023). Shapes of cervical articular process joints and association with histological evidence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals: A post-mortem study. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13940

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Bergmann, Wilhelmina
  • Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, NL-3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Vernooij, Johannes C M
  • Division of Farm Animal Health, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, NL-3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Grinwis, Guy C M
  • Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, NL-3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Gröne, Andrea
  • Division of Pathology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, NL-3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D. Distal sagittal forelimb conformation in young Walloon horses: Radiographic assessment and its relationship with osteochondral fragments. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311965.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311965pubmed: 39392827google scholar: lookup
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