Cervical complete luxations

• Rearing and falling over backward (falls over jumps and obstacles)
• Collisions and kicks (head on collisions)

Clinical signs of cervical vertebral luxations depend on:

• Degree of bony disruption
• Instability at the fracture site
• Severity of the trauma to the spinal cord

Clinical signs can be:

• Mild ataxia to quadriplegia and sudden death
• Lameness of the forelimbs
• Neck pain, stiffness and torticollis
• Sympathetic dysfunction: Horner syndrome, skin hyperthermia

Radiographs:

• The growth plates and their closure times must be taken into consideration when interpreting the radiographic images in foals and young adult horses.
• Frequently fissure lines and fractures are overlooked. Other imaging modalities are advised.
• Fracture lines are often poorly visualized.

Radiographic examination:

• Lateral radiographs
• Ventrodorsal radiographs. In the thoracolumbar region they are usually unrewarding because of the massive musculature around the vertebrae.

Computertomography:

• Possible up to C7 with standard CT scanner in adult horses.

Myelography:

• Very useful for the neck area
• Definitive diagnosis for cervical stenotic myelopathy is achieved by myelography, which helps to differentiate between dynamic and static compression.

MRI:

• Only possible for the first vertebrae with standard MRI in adult horses. A complete examination is possible in foals, small horses, ponies and donkeys.