Radiographic and myelographic assessment of the equine cervical vertebral column and spinal cord

Abstract

Radiography and myelography are extremely valuable diagnostic tools for evaluation of the equine cervical vertebral column and spinal cord, being useful for identification of malformations, fractures and osteomyelitis in this region. A frequent application of cervical radiography and myelography is in the evaluation of suspected cases of cervical vertebral malformation (CVM). For a thorough review of CVM (‘wobbler syndrome’ or cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy), the reader is directed to the recent paper by Nout and Reed (2003). These radiographic diagnostic modalities are used after thorough physical and neurological examinations have localised the suspect lesion(s) to the cervical spinal cord. This article accompanies the paper in this issue by Walmsley (2005) that details the experiences in an English equine hospital of the surgical treatment of CVM. As the author notes, that article highlights the importance of confirming the presence of cervical spinal cord compression and, most critically for the surgeon, determining the exact site(s) of compression in order to decide upon a targeted surgical approach.