Case of the week 7.27.20
Publication Date: 2020-07-27
History
10 year old Tennessee walking horse. 3 year history of "loose behind"
5 images
Findings
Multiple lateral radiographs of the cervical spine.
There is marked angulation of the C3 vertebral body ventrally relative to C2, resulting in marked kyphosis at the C2-C3 intervertebral disc space. The C2-C3 intervertebral disc space is wedge shaped, with moderate widening at its dorsal aspect and marked narrowing at its ventral aspect. There is marked smooth osseous bridging between the craniodorsal lamina and articular process of C3 and the caudal aspect of the C2 spinous process. This region of remodeling is mildly sclerotic, and there is a small irregularly marginated radiolucent line between the remodeling and the caudal aspect of the C2 pedicles. The cranial aspect of the body of C3 is small in size and flattened dorsoventrally. The changes at the C2-C3 articulation are resulting in marked narrowing of the vertebral canal. The C3-C4 intervertebral disc space is wedge shaped, with marked widening at its dorsal aspect and marked narrowing of its ventral aspect. There is mild smooth osseous remodeling of the C3-C4 articular processes joint with loss of definition of the articular facet joint space. The C4-C5 intervertebral disc space is mildly narrowed. There is mild ventral deviation of the body of C5 relative to C4, resulting in mild narrowing of the vertebral canal. There is mild to moderate osseous proliferation at the caudoventral aspect of the disc space and ventral to the body of C5. There is mild smooth osseous remodeling of the C4-C5 through C6-C7 articular facet joints.
Diagnosis
- The marked abnormal angulation and remodeling of the C2-C3 articulation and intervertebral disc space is likely due to prior trauma with chronic remodeling. The changes are resulting in marked narrowing of the vertebral canal and spinal cord. The mild narrowing and remodeling of the C3-C4 and C4-C5 intervertebral disc spaces are likely chronic remodeling and degenerative changes related.
- Multifocal mild to moderate articular facet degenerative changes.
Discussion
The patient was subsequently euthanized.
Files