Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39433426›Full record

ArticleEquine veterinary journal2025

Osseous pathologic changes in the thoracic region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post-mortem study in three breeds.

Tijn J P Spoormakers, Stefanie Veraa, Elisabeth A M Graat, P René van Weeren, Harold Brommer

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Article in Equine veterinary journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Tijn J P SpoormakersDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5093-0458
Stefanie VeraaDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1067-3976
Elisabeth A M GraatDepartment of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1417-969X
P René van WeerenDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6654-1817
Harold BrommerDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3622-8571

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundData on equine thoracic pathology hardly exist in breeds other than Thoroughbreds.

objectivesTo describe pathological changes of the osseous thoracic vertebral column in Warmblood horses, Shetland ponies and Konik horses, and to compare prevalence and severity. STUDY

designDescriptive post-mortem study.

methodsComputed tomography was used to examine the thoracic vertebral column of 34 Warmblood horses, 28 Shetland ponies, and 18 Konik horses. Osteoarthritis (OA), periarticular osteolysis, osseous cyst-like lesions and fragments of articular processes (APJs), costovertebral and costotransverse joints, soft tissue mineralisation surrounding these joints, intervertebral disc (IVD) mineralisation, impingement of spinous processes (SPs) and spondylosis were scored.

resultsAPJ aplasia (98%; 58/59) occurred in 14 Shetland ponies. OA predominated in Warmblood horses across all joints (45% vs. 29 and 32%, p < 0.001). OA and periarticular osteolysis were found in particular in the costotransverse joints (p < 0.001) across all breeds. Warmblood and Konik horses had more and severe soft tissue mineralisation than Shetland ponies (2.3%, score 1.5 and 3.2%, score 1.3, respectively, vs. 0.3%, score 0.9, p < 0.01). Mid location was most often affected with highest severity score (4.2%, 1.5, p < 0.001). Konik horses displayed the highest IVD mineralisation (20%, p < 0.001), which notably increased with age (p < 0.001) compared with Warmblood horses (4.5%) and Shetland ponies (1.1%). SPs impingement was absent in Shetland ponies, and most prevalent in Warmblood horses (11.2%, p < 0.001) compared with Konik horses (2.2%). Osseous cyst-like lesions, fragments and spondylosis were minimal in all breeds and nearly absent in Shetland ponies. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Clinical histories and macroscopic and histologic examinations were unavailable.

conclusionsDistinct breed differences exist in prevalence and severity of thoracic vertebral column osseous pathologies. Costotransverse joint pathology is more common than APJ pathology in all breeds. Warmblood horses are prone to OA, spondylosis and SPs impingement; Konik horses exhibit significant IVD mineralisation, and Shetland ponies demonstrate a high prevalence of APJ aplasia. Periarticular osteolysis, osseous cyst-like lesions, fragments and soft tissue mineralisation are notably low in Shetland ponies.

Indexed as

Horse DiseasesThoracic VertebraeAnimalsFemaleHorsesMaleTomography, X-Ray Computedarticular processcostotransversecostovertebraldiscimpingementspondylosis

Identifiers

PMID39433426
PMCPMC12326894

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