Characterization of bony changes localized to the cervical articular processes in a mixed population of horses.
Authors: Haussler Kevin K, Pool Roy R, Clayton Hilary M
Journal: PloS one
Summary
Cervical articular process disease in horses is poorly characterised, partly because many affected animals show no clinical signs of neck pain. Haussler and colleagues examined skeletal material from 55 horses of mixed age and size, evaluating bony changes across the C2–T3 vertebral region using morphological assessment to establish what constitutes normal variation versus pathological change. Remarkably, 72% of articular processes displayed abnormal osseous proliferation—predominantly osteophytes—with severity graded as mild (45%), moderate (22%) or severe (5%), and clustering at specific spinal levels (mild lesions C3–C6; moderate C6–T2; severe changes at C2–C3 and C6–T2). Both advancing age and greater wither height correlated positively with lesion severity, though left-right symmetry and paired articular surface involvement were generally balanced. Whilst the direct clinical consequences of these findings remain unclear, this comprehensive characterisation provides essential reference material for radiographic and advanced imaging interpretation, allowing practitioners to distinguish incidental degenerative changes from clinically significant pathology when investigating equine cervical disease.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Cervical osteophytes and bony changes are extremely common in asymptomatic horses—their presence alone does not confirm they are causing neck pain or performance problems
- •Larger horses and older horses show more pronounced cervical articular changes, so imaging findings must be interpreted in clinical context rather than assumed pathological
- •When imaging the cervical spine, expect to see bony changes at C3-C6 (mild), C6-T2 (moderate), and C2-C3 (severe), and differentiate incidental findings from true sources of dysfunction
Key Findings
- •72% of articular processes in asymptomatic horses exhibited abnormal bony changes, with osteophytes being the most common finding
- •Severity distribution: normal 28%, mild 45%, moderate 22%, severe 5%
- •Highest mild changes at C3-C6, moderate at C6-T2, and severe at C2-C3 and C6-T2 vertebral levels
- •Osseous pathology grade was positively associated with increasing age and wither height