Correlation between cervical clinical changes and morphological variations in articular processes joints detected by ultrasonographic examination in jumping and dressage horses

Abstract

A high prevalence of osseous changes in the articular process joints (APJs) of the cervical column of horses was identified in cadaveric studies, however, the clinical relevance of such changes has been questioned. The ultrasonographic examination is highly accessible for veterinarians and allows the identification of the osseous borders of the APJs as well as changes in its adjacent soft tissues. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between the presence of changes in the APJs of the cervical column of sports horses found at ultrasound imaging with the presence of clinical signs. Athletic horses with muscle atrophies, painful response to palpation of neck, reduced cervical mobility and obscure lameness of forelimbs will be identified over a period of 12 months. The ultrasonographic examination of the C2 to T1 APJs will be performed in the included animals and the relationship between the magnitude of the ultrasonographic and clinical signs will be stablished. This study hypothesizes that changes in the APJs found at ultrasonographic examination has a high correlation with changes identified at clinical examination of the cervical column of jumping and dressage horses.