Cervical vertebral canal endoscopy in the horse: intra- and post operative observations.
Authors: Prange T, Derksen F J, Stick J A, Garcia-Pereira F L, Carr E A
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Cervical Vertebral Canal Endoscopy in the Horse Cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM) remains a significant cause of neurological dysfunction in horses, yet conventional imaging—including radiography, ultrasonography, and MRI—frequently fails to precisely localise the site of spinal cord compression, creating diagnostic uncertainty that complicates surgical decision-making. Prange and colleagues translated an established human diagnostic technique into equine practice by performing cervical vertebral canal endoscopy (CVCE) in anaesthetised horses, enabling direct visualisation of the spinal canal and its contents where imaging modalities proved inconclusive. The procedure successfully identified focal areas of compression and revealed structural abnormalities of the vertebral canal, spinal cord, and associated tissues, whilst providing detailed intra-operative observations of compression severity and location that would have been impossible to obtain through conventional means. For practitioners managing CVSM cases, this technique offers the potential to confirm diagnosis and precisely delineate pathology before committing to surgical intervention, ultimately improving case selection and surgical planning. Whilst the procedural accessibility and cost-effectiveness remain considerations for widespread adoption, CVCE represents a valuable diagnostic advance that bridges the gap between imaging and surgical exploration, particularly in horses where conservative management has failed and definitive diagnosis would influence therapeutic strategy.
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Practical Takeaways
- •CVCE offers a new diagnostic tool to pinpoint the exact location of spinal cord compression in horses with cervical ataxia, improving surgical planning precision
- •This technique bridges a diagnostic gap where standard imaging (radiography, ultrasound, MRI) fails to reliably localize compression sites
- •Understanding this endoscopic approach may help explain neurological signs and guide more targeted surgical interventions for CVSM cases
Key Findings
- •Cervical vertebral canal endoscopy (CVCE) technique has been successfully adapted from human medicine for use in equine cadavers
- •CVCE allows direct visualization and precise identification of spinal cord compression locations in horses with CVSM
- •Conventional diagnostic imaging alone cannot reliably identify the exact location of cervical spinal cord compression in CVSM cases