Radiographic and scintigraphic evaluation of spondylosis in the equine thoracolumbar spine: a retrospective study.
Authors: Meehan L, Dyson S, Murray R
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Whilst spondylosis of the equine thoracolumbar spine is often cited as a potential source of back pain, Meehan and colleagues' retrospective analysis of 670 horses with clinical back pain reveals it affects only 3.4% of this population, with a notable concentration of lesions between T11–T13. The researchers developed objective radiographic and scintigraphic grading systems and compared imaging modalities, finding that over 60% of affected horses had multiple lesions, yet scintigraphy detected increased radiopharmaceutical uptake at only 33% of radiographically positive sites—a meaningful discrepancy suggesting that radiographic changes alone may not indicate active remodelling or clinical significance. This low prevalence, combined with the poor correlation between radiographic findings and nuclear imaging, indicates that spondylosis is rarely the primary driver of back pain in horses and often coexists with other osseous pathology. For practitioners, these findings underline the importance of thorough multimodal imaging assessment and a cautious approach to attributing clinical signs to spondylosis without excluding concurrent conditions or considering whether lesions are genuinely active contributors to lameness or performance issues. Further investigation into the clinical significance of spondylotic lesions—particularly their biomechanical impact and relationship to longitudinal outcomes—remains essential for evidence-based treatment decisions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Spondylosis is an uncommon finding in horses presenting with back pain; investigate other causes before attributing clinical signs to this condition alone
- •Radiographic and scintigraphic findings do not always correlate—negative scintigraphy does not rule out radiographically identified spondylosis lesions
- •Multiple lesions and specific anatomical predilection (T11-T13 region) suggest spondylosis may be part of a broader spinal pathology pattern rather than an isolated problem
Key Findings
- •Spondylosis was present in only 3.4% (23/670) of horses with clinical back pain
- •61% of affected horses had multiple spondylosis lesions, with 44% occurring between T11-T13 vertebral bodies
- •Only 33% of radiographically identified spondylosis lesions showed increased radiopharmaceutical uptake on scintigraphy, indicating poor correlation between imaging modalities
- •Spondylosis may occur alone or in association with other osseous abnormalities, suggesting multifactorial origin of thoracolumbar pain