Page 299 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

274 CHAPTER 1

VetBooks.ir 1.518 1.519

Figs. 1.518, 1.519 (1.518) Lateral radiograph of the caudal thoracic area of a horse with ventral spondylosis.
(1.519) Lateral gamma scintigraphy image of the caudal thoracic area of the same horse showing diffuse uptake
along the ventral borders of the vertebral bodies. (Photos courtesy Richard Parker)

Diagnosis FURTHER READING
It is not possible to distinguish spondylosis from Garcia-Lopez JM (2018) Neck, back and pelvic pain
other causes of chronic thoracolumbar pain on clini- in the Sport horse. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract
cal examination alone. Radiography will confirm the 34(2):235–251.
presence of new bone on the ventral aspect of the Haussler KK, Stover SM (1998) Stress fractures of
thoracic vertebrae (Fig. 1.518), while gamma scin- the vertebral lamina and pelvis in Thoroughbred
tigraphy can demonstrate increased bone activity racehorses. Equine Vet J 30:374–381.
in the area (Fig. 1.519). Caudal thoracic (>T16) and Henson FMD (2018) (ed) Equine Neck and Back Pathology:
lumbar spondylosis is more difficult to image due Diagnosis and Treatment, 2nd edn. Wiley-Blackwell,
Chichester.
to superimposed abdominal contents, but new bone McGowan C, Goff L (2016) (eds) Animal Physiotherapy:
may be palpable per rectum from L4 caudally.
Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Animals,
2nd edn. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester.
Management Schweinitz DV (1999) Thermographic diagnostics in
As no specific treatment is available, recommenda- equine back pain. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract
tions are limited to long-term rest and the admin- 15:161–177.
istration of systemic anti-inflammatory medication Walmsley J, Pettersson H, Winberg F, McEvoy F (2002)
if warranted by the signs of pain. When back pain Impingement of the dorsal spinous processes in 215
is present the prognosis is usually poor for return to horses: case selection, surgical technique and results.
athletic use. Equine Vet J 34:23–28.