Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Biometrics Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2023 Jan;64(1):61-68. doi: 10.1111/vru.13158. Epub 2022 Sep 5.
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; R = 0.859; slope = -0.106), ventral extent (P = 0.022; R = 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.
马属动物颈椎胸椎间孔（IF）变窄有可能导致前肢跛行和/或颈部疼痛，尽管有关 IF 的 CT 资料有限。本回顾性分析研究的目的是描述一种用于定量 CT 颈椎胸椎间孔大小的方案；评估 IF 大小测量的可重复性；检验 IF 大小与相邻关节突（AP）大小、腹侧范围和解剖位置之间的关系；并确定具有狭窄的 IF 的比例。在 20 匹出现前肢跛行和/或颈部疼痛的温血马中获得了 CT 图像。评估了 C5 至 T2 之间的所有 IF（n = 160）。测量了 IF 的横截面积（CSA）、APCSA 和 AP 腹侧范围。计算了 IFCSA 测量的可重复性。评估了 IFCSA 与：APCSA、腹侧范围、侧位或位置之间可能的关联。IF 狭窄定义为与最宽部分相比，IF 高度减少超过 50%。IFCSA 测量的可重复性极好。IFCSA 与：APCSA（P < 0.001；R = 0.859；斜率 = -0.106）、腹侧范围（P = 0.022；R = 0.161；斜率 = -0.0617）和位置（P < 0.001；C7 与 T2 之间的数值较高）之间存在显著关联。IFCSA 与腹侧范围的关联较小。在 61 个（38.1%）IF 中发现了狭窄。最常见的狭窄程度是在 IF 的颅侧（26.3%）和中部（68.8%）。在 T1-T2 未发现狭窄。总之，CT 颈椎胸椎间孔大小的测量具有极好的可重复性，并且在 IF 大小与：AP 大小、腹侧范围和位置之间发现了关联。
