Page 279 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

254 CHAPTER 1

VetBooks.ir 1.480 1.481

Fig. 1.480 A 3-year-old Thoroughbred filly with
kyphosis. Fig. 1.481 Neonatal Thoroughbred foal born with
congenital axial and appendicular abnormalities
including a lateral scoliosis, most evident at the level
of the withers. (Photo courtesy Graham Munroe)
Clinical presentation
Affected animals are usually free of pain despite 1.482
obvious vertebral column deviation, although get-
ting tack to fit correctly can be difficult, leading to
pinching and back pain. Neurological gait abnor-
malities are not usually seen, although stride length
may be restricted. Progressive lordosis can affect
young horses after the age of puberty before skeletal
maturity occurs, between the age of 2 and 7 years.
There is typically no known cause and affected indi-
viduals often suffer back pain if ridden due to DSP
impingement.

Differential diagnosis Fig. 1.482 Laterolateral radiograph of a foal with
Gradually progressive developmental curvatures a marked deformity of its thoracic spine. Note the
must be distinguished from mild curvatures of the major disruption of the normal alignment of the
vertebral column caused by asymmetric muscle con- thoracic vertebral column at T12/13. (Photo courtesy
traction. The latter are usually painful to palpation Graham Munroe)
and will respond to analgesic medication. Fractures
of the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae may cause lordo-
sis or kyphosis, but the history and clinical presenta-
tion differ markedly. Severe epaxial muscle wastage Management
can give a similar appearance to kyphosis due to There are no reports of attempted correction of con-
increased prominence of the DSPs. genital anomalies of the spine. Careful fitting of the
saddle is essential to minimise secondary back pain
Diagnosis in animals that can be ridden. Owners may wish to
Diagnosis is made by examination and inspection. breed from affected animals and as the inheritance
Radiography is useful to identify bony abnormalities of these anomalies is unknown, giving advice on this
and other concurrent pathology (Fig. 1.482). matter is difficult.