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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
06:11
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in the Ovine Model
Published on: October 5, 2009
Cervical intervertebral disc protrusion in two horses
Summary
Cervical intervertebral disc protrusion caused severe ataxia in two horses. Diagnosis was confirmed using metrizamide myelography and necropsy, revealing spinal cord compression and degeneration.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Equine Medicine
- Comparative Pathology
Background:
- Equine ataxia can stem from various neurological conditions affecting the spinal cord.
- Cervical spinal cord lesions are a common cause of ambulatory deficits in horses.
- Intervertebral disc disease is recognized but less frequently diagnosed in horses compared to other species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on two cases of cervical intervertebral disc protrusion in horses presenting with ataxia.
- To describe the clinical signs, diagnostic methods, and pathological findings associated with this condition.
- To highlight the utility of metrizamide myelography in diagnosing spinal cord compression in horses.
Main Methods:
- Clinical examination of two horses with tetraparesis and proprioceptive deficits.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis to rule out inflammation or infection.
- Metrizamide myelography to visualize spinal cord compression in one horse.
- Necropsy and histological examination of the spinal cord in the second horse.
Main Results:
- Both horses exhibited severe ataxia, predominantly in the pelvic limbs, with proprioceptive deficits and spasticity.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis yielded normal results in both cases.
- Metrizamide myelography confirmed spinal cord compression at the second cervical intervertebral space in one horse.
- Necropsy revealed intervertebral disc protrusion between cervical vertebrae 6 and 7 in the other horse.
- Histopathology showed significant fiber degeneration and demyelination in the affected spinal cords.
Conclusions:
- Cervical intervertebral disc protrusion is a potential cause of severe ataxia in horses.
- Metrizamide myelography is a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying spinal cord compression.
- Histopathological findings confirm the degenerative nature of the spinal cord lesions secondary to disc protrusion.
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