Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Laminectomy for relief of atlantoaxial subluxation in four horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1988
- Authors:
- Nixon, A J & Stashak, T S
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, four horses were found to have a condition called atlantoaxial subluxation, which means their first two neck vertebrae were misaligned, causing pressure on the spinal cord. This issue was noticed in horses aged between 6 and 30 months, and three of them had experienced some kind of trauma. When examined, the horses showed signs of unsteadiness and difficulty moving. A special imaging test showed that the spinal cord was compressed in certain positions, but it was relieved when the neck was bent in another way. To fix this, a surgical procedure called subtotal laminectomy was performed to relieve the pressure on the spinal cord. After the surgery, two horses made a full recovery, one had some minor ongoing issues, and sadly, the fourth horse had to be put down after it broke a leg six weeks later.
Abstract
Malalignment of the atlas and axis was seen in 4 horses with an idiopathic form of atlantoaxial subluxation characterized by spinal cord compression on extension. The bone structure and density of the atlas and axis were radiographically normal in 3 of the 4 horses. Clinical signs appeared when the horses were 6 to 30 months old, and 3 of the 4 horses had a history of trauma. Although a congenital anomaly could not be ruled out, the cause was thought to be trauma. The horses were moderately to severely ataxic at the time of examination. Myelography revealed compression of the spinal cord at the atlantoaxial junction on extension. Flexion completely relieved the compression. In each horse, subtotal laminectomy of the caudal two thirds of the dorsal arch of the atlas was used to relieve the spinal cord compression. Two horses recovered fully, one had residual grade-1 neurologic deficits, and a fourth was euthanatized after it fractured a limb 6 weeks after surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3192443/