Page 273 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

248 CHAPTER 1

VetBooks.ir 1.469 Fig. 1.469 Laterolateral radiograph of the
second to fifth cervical vertebrae of a 13-year-
old Grand Prix dressage horse. Cranial is to
the left. There is subluxation of the third (Ce
3) and fourth cervical vertebrae, which was
an incidental finding. Each vertebra has short
Ce 3
pedicles, so the articular process joints are low
slung, the dorsoventral sagittal diameter of the
vertebral canal is small and the intervertebral
foramina are small. The owner’s complaint was
of neck stiffness and difficulties in turning;
however, these were abolished by bilateral
perineural analgesia of the deep branch of the
lateral plantar nerve.

1.470
Fig. 1.470 Laterolateral radiograph of the fifth
cervical to first thoracic vertebrae of 9-year-old
Warmblood gelding with poor performance.
Cranial is to the left. The horse exhibited mild
hindlimb ataxia. There is subluxation of the
sixth (Ce 6) and seventh cervical vertebrae.
The head of the seventh cervical vertebra is
displaced dorsally. The vertebral canal of the
Ce 6
seventh cervical vertebra is wedge shaped. There
is enlargement of the caudodorsal aspect of the
epiphysis of the sixth cervical vertebra (a ‘ski
jump’). There is asymmetrical enlargement
of the articular process joints of the sixth and
seventh cervical vertebrae.

Aetiology/pathophysiology Differential diagnosis
Lesions may be congenital or acquired and result in Any cause of ataxia and weakness can cause similar
spinal cord compression or cervical nerve root injury. clinical signs.

Clinical presentation Diagnosis
Most horses present with a variable degree of ataxia True laterolateral radiographic images are essential
and weakness. Although ataxia related to subluxation for diagnosis (Fig. 1.470).
between the third and fourth cervical vertebrae is
predominantly seen in young horses, horses with Management
caudal neck lesions are often mature and present Conservative management is usually unsuccessful.
with loss of performance (e.g. a breeding stallion Surgical fusion can be considered.
experiencing difficulties in covering mares) or fore-
limb lameness.