Imaging Features of Discospondylitis in Two Horses

Abstract

Two horses with discospondylitis are described with emphasis on the imaging modalities used and their contribution to the final diagnosis and outcome. Radiographic findings were vertebral endplate lysis with sclerosis in both horses, with additional vertebral subluxation and ventral spondylosis in one horse. Ultrasonographic findings included vertebral malalignment and obliteration of the intervertebral disc by spondylotic bone in one horse and irregular endplates, a widened disc space, a hypoechoic paravertebral abscess and hypoechoic, atrophic adjacent musculature with loss of linear fiber pattern in the other horse. Bone scintigraphy excluded additional affected sites. A systematic approach is recommended when performing an ultrasound examination of the spine.

Diagnosis and treatment of lumbosacral discospondylitis in a calf

“…They are described in literature in different species [7,8,12,13,18] and may be very helpful in detecting multiple spinal lesions [11]. In the present case, computed tomography, although possible, was not an option because of financial restraints.…”

Pathology in Practice

“…1 In the veteri- nary medical literature, vertebral osteomyelitis has been described in various species, including dogs, cats, calves, lambs, and foals, 2-10 but is less frequent in adult horses. 15 A small number of reports [11][12][13][14] of vertebral osteomyelitis or paravertebral abscesses in adult horses have described clinical signs including fever, signs of neck or back pain, muscle twitching, generalized stiffness, shuffling gait, progressive ataxia, limb weakness, muscle atrophy, and intermittent fever. 15 A small number of reports [11][12][13][14] of vertebral osteomyelitis or paravertebral abscesses in adult horses have described clinical signs including fever, signs of neck or back pain, muscle twitching, generalized stiffness, shuffling gait, progressive ataxia, limb weakness, muscle atrophy, and intermittent fever.…”

“…[11][12][13][14] Vertebral osteomyelitis most often results from hematogenous seeding from a primary site of infection, traumatic injury, or contiguous spread from an infection in adjacent soft tissue; however, iatrogenic inoculation during spinal surgery can also serve as a source of infection in applicable species. [11][12][13][14] An inflammatory leukogram along with hyperfibrinogenemia was detected in the pony described in the present report as well as previously reported cases. Many affected horses have been described as having difficulty rising from recumbency and a history of prolonged or persistent recumbency.…”

“…15 A small number of reports [11][12][13][14] of vertebral osteomyelitis or paravertebral abscesses in adult horses have described clinical signs including fever, signs of neck or back pain, muscle twitching, generalized stiffness, shuffling gait, progressive ataxia, limb weakness, muscle atrophy, and intermittent fever. [11][12][13][14] Moderate to severe elevations in serum fibrinogen concentrations (≥ 900 mg/dL) have been used as a diagnostic indicator of physeal or epiphyseal osteomyelitis in foals. [11][12][13][14] An inflammatory leukogram along with hyperfibrinogenemia was detected in the pony described in the present report as well as previously reported cases.…”

Degenerative process of the dens axis in a 2 month-old Friesian foal

“…Die Tiere zeigen Unvermögen, sich zu bewegen, Kyphose, steife Gliedmaßen, Nacken-oder Rük-kenschmerzen, Paresen und verschiedene Kombination der Symptome (Stashak und Mayhew 1984, Markel et al 1986, Olchowy 1994, Giguere und Lavoie 1994, Sweers und Carstens 2006, Hillyer et al 1996, Hutchison et al 1993 …”