CT measures of osseous cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina are repeatable and associated with CT measures of adjacent articular processes in horses.

Abstract

Narrowing of the equine cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina (IF) has the potential to cause forelimb lameness and/or neck pain although limited information is available on CT of the IF. The aims of this retrospective, analytical study were to describe a protocol for quantifying CT cervicothoracic IF size; evaluate the repeatability of IF size measures; test associations between IF size and adjacent articular process (AP) size, ventral extent, and anatomic location; and determine the proportion of IF with narrowing. Computed tomographic images were acquired in 20 Warmblood horses that presented with forelimb lameness and/or neck pain. All IF between C5 and T2 (n = 160) were evaluated. IF cross-sectional area (CSA), APCSA, and AP ventral extent were measured. The repeatability of IFCSA measurement was calculated. Possible associations between IFCSA and: APCSA, ventral extent, side, or location were assessed. IF narrowing was defined as more than 50% of reduction in IF height when compared with its widest part(s). The repeatability of IFCSA measurement was excellent. There was a significant association between IFCSA and: APCSA (P<0.001; R2 = 0.859; slope = -0.106), ventral extent (P = 0.022; R2 = 0.161; slope = -0.0617), and location (P<0.001; higher values between C7 and T2). The association between IFCSA and ventral extent was small. Narrowing was identified in 61 (38.1%) IF. Maximum degree of narrowing was most common at the cranial (26.3%) and middle (68.8%) third of the IF. Narrowing was not identified at T1-T2. In conclusion, CT cervicothoracic IF size can be measured with excellent repeatability, and associations were found between IF size and: AP size, ventral extent, and location.