Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses

Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses

Summary Background Variation in equine caudal cervical spine morphology at C6 and C7 has high prevalence in Warmblood horses and is suspected to be associated with pain in a large mixed‐breed group of horses. At present no data exist on the relationship between radiographic phenotype and clinical pr...

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Published in:Equine veterinary journal Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 219 - 224
Main Authors: Veraa, S., de Graaf, K., Wijnberg, I. D., Back, W., Vernooij, H., Nielen, M., Belt, A.J. M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-03-2020
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Subjects:
Analytical Clinical Studies
anatomy
Animals
Case-Control Studies
Cervical Vertebrae
homologous
horse
Horse Diseases
Horses
Neck
Retrospective Studies
transitional vertebra
horse
transitional vertebra
anatomy
homologous
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Summary:Summary Background Variation in equine caudal cervical spine morphology at C6 and C7 has high prevalence in Warmblood horses and is suspected to be associated with pain in a large mixed‐breed group of horses. At present no data exist on the relationship between radiographic phenotype and clinical presentation in Warmblood horses in a case‐control study. Objectives To establish the frequency of radiographically visible morphologic variation in a large group of Warmblood horses with clinical signs and compare this with a group without clinical signs. We hypothesised that occurrence of morphologic variation in the case group would not differ from the control group, indicating there is no association between clinical signs and morphologic variation. Study design Retrospective case‐control. Methods Radiographic presence or absence of morphologic variation of cervical vertebrae C6 and C7 was recorded in case (n = 245) and control horses (n = 132). Case and control groups were compared by univariable Pearson’s Chi‐square and multivariable logistic regression for measurement variables age, sex, breed, degenerative joint disease and morphologic variation at C6 and C7. Odds ratio and confidence intervals were obtained. A P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Morphologic variation at C6 and C7 (n = 108/377 = 28.6%; Cases 58/245 = 23.7%; Control 50/132 = 38%) was less frequent in horses with clinical signs in univariable testing (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.3–0.8, P = 0.001). Age, sex, breed and degenerative joint disease were not retained in the final multivariable logistic regression step whereas morphologic variation remained significantly less present in horses with clinical signs. Main limitations Possible demographic differences between equine clinics. Conclusions Morphologic variation in the caudal cervical spine was detected more frequently in horses without clinical signs. Therefore, radiographic presence of such variation does not necessarily implicate the presence of clinical signs.
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ISSN:0425-1644
2042-3306
DOI:10.1111/evj.13140