Survey of equine veterinarians regarding primary equine back pain in the United States.
Authors: Marshall-Gibson Marianne E, Durham Matthew G, Seabaugh Kathryn A, Moorman Valerie J, Ferris Dora J
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine Back Pain Management in US Veterinary Practice Back pain significantly limits performance in sport horses, yet substantial variation exists in how American equine veterinarians diagnose and treat this condition. Marshall-Gibson and colleagues surveyed 97 US equine practitioners through AAEP and ACVSMR channels (April–July 2022) to establish current clinical approaches, finding that whilst radiography and ultrasound of the thoraco-lumbar spine dominate diagnostic protocols, the most commonly identified pathologies include impinging dorsal spinous processes, sacroiliac joint degeneration, and articular process osteoarthritis. Notably, 82% of respondents incorporated rehabilitation into their treatment strategies, with a conservative approach to surgical intervention for kissing spine—72.2% recommending surgery only after non-surgical failure and 14.6% never recommending it—suggesting an emerging consensus favouring rehabilitative management. The research reveals that owners and trainers predominantly report behavioural changes and poor performance rather than visible lameness, which has significant implications for early detection and intervention strategies. For farriers, physiotherapists and nutritionists working within the equine team, these findings underscore the value of collaborative, progressive rehabilitation protocols and highlight that primary back pain management is increasingly evidence-informed rather than purely surgical, though significant standardisation gaps remain across US equine practice.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Rehabilitation should be the first-line approach for primary back pain in horses, with surgery reserved for cases that fail conservative management
- •Owner-reported behavioral changes and performance decline are the most common presentations of equine back pain—screen for these when taking histories
- •There is currently no consensus among US equine veterinarians on diagnostic protocols or treatment standards for back pain, so practitioners should develop evidence-based protocols for their own practice
Key Findings
- •97 US equine veterinarians most commonly reported behavioral issues and poor performance as clinical signs in horses with primary back pain
- •Radiography and ultrasound of the thoraco-lumbar region were the most frequently used diagnostic tests
- •72.2% of respondents recommended surgery for impinging spinous processes only after non-surgical treatment failure
- •82% of practitioners reported improvement in clinical signs with rehabilitation alone as a component of treatment