Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN:
0003-1488
Publication Date:
01 Feb 2023
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Age and sex correlate with bony changes and anatomic variations of the lumbosacroiliac region of the vertebral column in a mixed population of horses

Nicola ScilimatiVeterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

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Francesca BeccatiVeterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Sport Horse Research Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

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Cecilia Dall’AglioVeterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

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Antonio Di MeoVeterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

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Marco PepeVeterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.07.0293
Volume/Issue:
Volume 261: Issue 2
Online Publication Date:
08 Nov 2022
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To provide a postmortem description of anatomic variations and changes of the lumbosacroiliac region in horses. The authors hypothesized that lesion severity would increase with age and body weight and correlate to anatomic variations.

SAMPLES

Lumbosacroiliac vertebral specimens from 38 horses (mean age, 16 years; range, 5 to 30 years) that died or were euthanized for reasons unrelated to the study between November 2019 and October 2021.

PROCEDURES

The lumbosacroiliac region of the vertebral column was removed from each cadaver. After dissection, disarticulation, and boiling, the anatomic specimens were examined for anatomic variations and osseous changes of the articular process joints (APJs), intertransverse joints (ITJs), and sacroiliac joints (SIJs). The lengths of L6-S1 intertransverse articular surfaces were measured and their ratios calculated. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and the χ2 test was used to assess differences in anatomic variations and abnormal changes of the APJs, ITJs, and SIJs.

RESULTS

The most common anatomic variation was a sacrum-like shape of the transverse processes of L6 (29/38 [76%]) and converging orientation of dorsal spinous process of L6 (33/38 [87%]). The highest prevalence of bony changes was detected at L5-L6 (right, 34/38 [89%]; left, 33/38 [87%]) and L6-S1 APJs (right, 38/38 [100%]; left, 37/38 [97%]) and at SIJs (right, 32/38 [86%]; left, 31/38 [82%]). The shape of L6 transverse processes differed between breed (P = .01) and was associated with presence of L4-L5 ITJs (P < .01).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Age and sex were associated with changes of the sacral dorsal spinous processes, ITJs, and APJs. The clinical significance of these findings could not be confirmed based on the study limitations.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To provide a postmortem description of anatomic variations and changes of the lumbosacroiliac region in horses. The authors hypothesized that lesion severity would increase with age and body weight and correlate to anatomic variations.

SAMPLES

Lumbosacroiliac vertebral specimens from 38 horses (mean age, 16 years; range, 5 to 30 years) that died or were euthanized for reasons unrelated to the study between November 2019 and October 2021.

PROCEDURES

The lumbosacroiliac region of the vertebral column was removed from each cadaver. After dissection, disarticulation, and boiling, the anatomic specimens were examined for anatomic variations and osseous changes of the articular process joints (APJs), intertransverse joints (ITJs), and sacroiliac joints (SIJs). The lengths of L6-S1 intertransverse articular surfaces were measured and their ratios calculated. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and the χ2 test was used to assess differences in anatomic variations and abnormal changes of the APJs, ITJs, and SIJs.

RESULTS

The most common anatomic variation was a sacrum-like shape of the transverse processes of L6 (29/38 [76%]) and converging orientation of dorsal spinous process of L6 (33/38 [87%]). The highest prevalence of bony changes was detected at L5-L6 (right, 34/38 [89%]; left, 33/38 [87%]) and L6-S1 APJs (right, 38/38 [100%]; left, 37/38 [97%]) and at SIJs (right, 32/38 [86%]; left, 31/38 [82%]). The shape of L6 transverse processes differed between breed (P = .01) and was associated with presence of L4-L5 ITJs (P < .01).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Age and sex were associated with changes of the sacral dorsal spinous processes, ITJs, and APJs. The clinical significance of these findings could not be confirmed based on the study limitations.

Supplementary Materials

    • Supplementary Figure S1 (PDF 170 KB)
    • Supplementary Figure S2 (PDF 216 KB)
    • Supplementary Figure S3 (PDF 193 KB)
    • Supplementary Table S1 (PDF 126 KB)
    • Supplementary Table S2 (PDF 181 KB)
    • Supplementary Table S3 (PDF 117 KB)

Contributor Notes

Corresponding author: Dr. Beccati (francesca.beccati@unipg.it)