Page 271 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

246 CHAPTER 1

VetBooks.ir 1.466 Fig. 1.466 Laterolateral radiograph of the sixth
cervical to first thoracic vertebrae of the horse in
1.464. Cranial is to the left. There is mild subluxation
of the seventh cervical vertebra. The vertebral
foramen of the seventh cervical vertebra is wedge
shaped. There is enlargement of the caudodorsal
aspect of the epiphysis of the sixth cervical vertebra
Ce 6
(a ‘ski jump’) (Ce 6). The articular process joints
between the seventh cervical and first thoracic
vertebrae are enlarged, with reduction in size of the
intervertebral foramen. One ventral process has been
transposed from the sixth to the seventh cervical
vertebra (arrow).

1.467

Fig. 1.467 Laterolateral radiograph of the second
to fourth third cervical vertebrae of a 5-year-old
Warmblood potential dressage horse with neck
Ce 2
stiffness and reluctance to turn. Cranial is to the left.
There is marked narrowing of the intercentral joint
space between the second (Ce 2) and third cervical
vertebrae consistent with discospondylosis. The
outline of the head of the third cervical vertebra is a
little irregular. The articular process joints between
the second and third cervical vertebrae are also
abnormal.

joint modelling must be abaxial in order to affect The clinical signs associated with locking neck
these branches. syndrome are usually sporadic and treatment is dif-
ficult to justify because clinical efficacy is impossible
Management to judge. Dermatomal sweating often persists long
Short-term improvement in neck pain, stiffness and term.
forelimb lameness may be achieved by intra- articular
corticosteroid medication of the articular process DISCOSPONDYLOSIS
joints. There are often radiological abnormalities of
at least two adjacent articular process joints, and it Definition/overview
can be challenging to identify which may be most Degenerative changes of intervertebral discs are
significant. It is therefore common practice to treat common post-mortem observations, but the strong
more than one joint per side. Although the clini- overlying dorsal longitudinal ligament usually pre-
cal signs may be unilateral or bilateral, medication vents disc material protruding into the vertebral
of the left and right sides is often indicated, mainly canal. However, occasionally, clinical signs referable
because both sides are generally abnormal and opti- to an intercentral articulation and degeneration of
mal function of both is required. the intervertebral disc are recognised (Fig. 1.467).