Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses

Background Variation in equine caudal cervical spine morphology at C6 and C7 has high prevalence in Warmblood horses and is suspected to be associated with pain in a large mixed-breed group of horses. At present no data exist on the relationship between radiographic phenotype and clinical presentation in Warmblood horses in a case-control study. Objectives To establish the frequency of radiographically visible morphologic variation in a large group of Warmblood horses with clinical signs and compare this with a group without clinical signs. We hypothesised that occurrence of morphologic variation in the case group would not differ from the control group, indicating there is no association between clinical signs and morphologic variation. Study design Retrospective case-control. Methods Radiographic presence or absence of morphologic variation of cervical vertebrae C6 and C7 was recorded in case (n = 245) and control horses (n = 132). Case and control groups were compared by univariable Pearson's Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression for measurement variables age, sex, breed, degenerative joint disease and morphologic variation at C6 and C7. Odds ratio and confidence intervals were obtained. A P <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Morphologic variation at C6 and C7 (n = 108/377 = 28.6%; Cases 58/245 = 23.7%; Control 50/132 = 38%) was less frequent in horses with clinical signs in univariable testing (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P = 0.001). Age, sex, breed and degenerative joint disease were not retained in the final multivariable logistic regression step whereas morphologic variation remained significantly less present in horses with clinical signs. Main limitations Possible demographic differences between equine clinics. Conclusions Morphologic variation in the caudal cervical spine was detected more frequently in horses without clinical signs. Therefore, radiographic presence of such variation does not necessarily implicate the presence of clinical signs

Equine cervical intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with location and MRI features

Morphology of the equine cervical intervertebral disc is different from that in humans and small companion animals and published imaging data are scarcely available. The objectives of this exploratory, methods comparison study were (a) to describe MRI features of macroscopically nondegenerated and degenerated intervertebral discs (b) to test associations between spinal location and macroscopic degeneration or MRI-detected annular protrusion and between MRI-detected annular protrusion and macroscopic degeneration, and (c) to define MRI sequences for characterizing equine cervical intervertebral disc degeneration. Ex vivo MRI of intervertebral discs was performed in 11 horses with clinical signs related to the cervical region prior to macroscopic assessment. Mixed-effect logistic regression modeling included spinal location, MRI-detected annular protrusion, and presence of macroscopic degeneration with "horse" as random effect. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were determined. Reduced signal intensity in proton density turbo SE represented intervertebral disc degeneration. Signal voids due to presence of gas and/or hemorrhage were seen in gradient echo sequences. Presence of macroscopic intervertebral disc degeneration was significantly associated with spinal location with odds being higher in the caudal (C5 to T1) versus cranial (C2 to C5) part of the cervical vertebral column. Intervertebral discs with MRI-detected annular protrusion grades 2-4 did have higher odds than with grade 1 to have macroscopic degeneration. It was concluded that MRI findings corresponded well with gross macroscopic data. Magnetic resonance imaging of the equine cervical intervertebral disc seems to be a promising technique, but its potential clinical value for live horses needs to be explored further in a larger and more diverse population of horses

Cervical articular process joint osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals

Background: In Warmblood horses, degenerative joint disease is involved in cervical malformation and malarticulation (CVM). The degree of contribution of articular process joint (APJ) osteochondrosis (OC) is not clear. Objectives: (a) To explore the presence of predilection sites for APJ OC in cervical and cranial thoracic vertebral columns of Warmblood foals and (b) to examine the correlation of such a site with the predilection site of CVM. Study design: Case series. Methods: Seven hundred APJ facets of C2 to T2 of 29 foals (11 months gestation to 12 months [median age 7 days; range 365 days; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2-47 days]) were examined for OC and prevalence between joints, and the predilection site for CVM and the cranial cervical vertebral column were evaluated. Results: About 20.6% of facets revealed OC. There was no predilection site. Prevalence decreased with age up to 1 year (odds ratio [OR] 0.997; (95% CI 0.975-0.998)) but not up to 5 months. Severity increased with age in all age ranges (up to 1 year OR 1.023; 95% CI 1.005-1.049; >1-5 months, OR 1.203; 95% CI 1.014e+00-1.921; up to 1 month, OR 1.114; 95% CI 1.041-1.228). Highest prevalence was in cranial facets of the cervical and cervical-thoracic joints and in caudal facets of the thoracic joint up to 1 year and up to 1 month (OR 0.364; 95% CI 0.170-0.745, OR 0.434; 95% CI: 0.235-0.782, OR 7.665; 95% CI: 1.615-66.553 and OR 0.400; 95% CI 0.170-0.880, OR 0.351; 95% CI 0.172-0.700, OR 5.317; 95% CI 1.098-44.344 respectively). Main limitations: Two-thirds of the foals were less than 1 month of age. Conclusions: Articular process joint OC in Warmblood foals is common and is not more prevalent at CVM predilection sites, suggesting that abnormalities of enchondral ossification may not be major contributors to CVM

Ex vivo computed tomographic evaluation of morphology variations in equine cervical vertebrae

Diagnostic imaging is one of the pillars in the clinical workup of horses with clinical signs of cervical spinal disease. An improved awareness of morphologic variations in equine cervical vertebrae would be helpful for interpreting findings. The aim of this anatomic study was to describe CT variations in left–right symmetry and morphology of the cervical and cervicothoracic vertebrae in a sample of horses. Postmortem CT examinations of the cervical spine for horses without congenital growth disorders were prospectively and retrospectively recruited. A total of 78 horses (27 foals, 51 mature horses) were evaluated. Twenty-six horses (33.3%) had homologous changes in which a transposition of the caudal part of the transverse process (caudal ventral tubercle) of C6 toward the ventral aspect of the transverse process of C7 was present (n = 10 bilateral, n = 12 unilateral left-sided, n = 4 unilateral right-sided). There was one horse with occipito-atlantal malformation, two horses with rudimentary first ribs bilaterally, and one horse with bilateral transverse processes at Th1, representing homeotic (transitional) vertebral changes. Chi-square tests identified no significant differences in the number of conformational variations between the group of mature horses with or without clinical signs (P = 0.81) or between the group of mature horses and the group of foals (P = 0.72). Findings indicated that, in this sample of horses, the most frequently identified variations were homologous variations (transposition of the caudal part of the transverse process of C6–C7) in the caudal equine cervical vertebral column. Homeotic (transitional) variations at the cervicothoracic vertebral column were less common

Характер просторового розташування етносів по теренах Одеської області (друга половина ХХ ст.)

Background: Axial osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones and desmitis of the intersesamoidean ligament has been described in Friesian horses as well as in other breeds. The objectives of this study were to review the outcome of clinical cases of this disease in Friesian horses and analyse the pathology of the bone-ligament interface. Case records of Friesian horses diagnosed with axial osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones and desmitis of the intersesamoidean ligament in the period 2002-2012 were retrospectively evaluated. Post-mortem examination was performed on horses that were euthanized (n = 3) and included macroscopic necropsy (n = 3), high-field (9.4 Tesla) magnetic resonance imaging (n = 1) and histopathology (n = 2). Results: Twelve horses were included, aged 6.8 +/- 2.7 years. The hindlimb was involved in all cases. Lameness was acute in onset and severe, with a mean duration of 1.9 +/- 1.0 months. Three horses were euthanized after diagnosis; 9 horses underwent treatment. Two horses (22%) became sound for light riding purposes, 2 horses (22%) became pasture sound (comfortable at pasture, but not suitable for riding), 5 horses (56%) remained lame. In addition to bone resorption at the proximo-axial margin of the proximal sesamoid bones, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology showed osteoporosis of the peripheral compact bone and spongious bone of the proximal sesamoid bones and chronic inflammation of the intersesamoidean ligament. Conclusions: Axial osteitis of the proximal sesamoid bones and desmitis of the intersesamoidean ligament in the hindlimb of Friesian horses carries a poor prognosis. Pathological characterization (inflammation, proximo-axial bone resorption and remodelling of the peripheral compact bone and spongious bone of the proximal sesamoid bones) may help in unravelling the aetiology of this disease

Safety of percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of adrenal lesions in dogs: Perception of the procedure by radiologists and presentation of 50 cases

Background Percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of adrenal gland lesions is controversial in veterinary medicine. Objective To evaluate the frequency and radiologists' perception of the risk of the procedure as well as determining the incidence of complications. Methods Retrospective study. A first survey was submitted by e-mail to all board-certified radiologists of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI). A second survey was sent to radiologists who declared having performed the procedure at least once in their career (observational cross-sectional case study). Results The first survey was sent to 977 diplomates and answered by 138. Of 138 diplomates, 40 currently performed the procedure and 98 did not; 44 of the 98 gave the hypertensive crisis risk in pheochromocytoma as a reason. To the second survey, 12 of 65 responded positively; 50 dogs with 58 lesions were recruited, including 23 pheochromocytomas. Complications were reported in 4 of 50 dogs; 3 hemorrhages (1 mild and 1 moderate) and 1 death from acute respiratory distress syndrome (possibly related to laryngeal paralysis). No hypertensive crisis was reported. There was no relationship between the method of FNA/type of needle used and occurrence of complications. Based on the recollection of these 65 radiologists, who performed approximately 200 FNA of adrenal lesions, a death rate of approximately 1% was estimated. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Percutaneous US-guided FNA of adrenal lesions can be considered a minimally risky procedure, despite the negative perception by radiologists