A Radiographic Technique for Assessment of Morphologic Variations of the Equine Caudal Cervical Spine.
Authors: Gee Christine, Small Alison, Shorter Kathleen, Brown Wendy Y
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: A Radiographic Technique for Assessment of Morphologic Variations of the Equine Caudal Cervical Spine Equine Caudal Cervical Morphologic Variation (ECCMV) represents a distinct congenital malformation of the caudal cervical spine, most frequently affecting the sixth cervical vertebra (C6), where abnormal development of the ventral transverse process laminae occurs—sometimes extending to C7, T1 and associated ribs in various configurations. Although ECCMV has been recognised for many years and appears relatively common across multiple horse populations, the absence of a standardised radiographic protocol has prevented rigorous scientific evaluation of its true prevalence and clinical significance. Gee and colleagues established and validated a reliable radiographic technique capable of consistently identifying ECCMV, demonstrating the method with three clinical cases and confirming diagnoses in two horses via post-mortem examination. Whilst no direct causal link to clinical signs has yet been documented, retrospective observations suggest ECCMV may impact performance, making this standardised diagnostic approach valuable for clinicians seeking to quantify the condition and conduct prospective studies correlating morphological variation with functional outcomes. For equine professionals, adoption of this radiographic protocol enables consistent identification and documentation of ECCMV cases, building the evidence base needed to determine whether and how these anatomical variations warrant clinical intervention or management modifications.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Use the presented radiographic protocol to reliably diagnose ECCMV in your practice, enabling consistent identification and monitoring of this condition across horse populations.
- •Recognize that ECCMV is a distinct condition from CVSM with relatively high frequency in domesticated horses, requiring specific imaging techniques for accurate diagnosis.
- •While no direct clinical signs are documented, monitor horses with ECCMV for performance changes, as retrospective evidence suggests potential functional impact warranting further investigation.
Key Findings
- •A reliable radiographic protocol was established for consistent diagnosis of ECCMV, a congenital malformation of the caudal cervical spine distinct from CVSM.
- •ECCMV most commonly presents as variations in the caudal ventral lamina structure of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6), with potential involvement of C7 and T1 vertebrae.
- •Diagnoses in three horses were confirmed via postmortem examination in two cases, validating the radiographic technique.
- •No documented clinical link exists between ECCMV occurrence and clinical signs, though retrospective studies suggest potential performance impact.