Very Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Overriding Dorsal Spinous Processes
Synonyms: Kissing Spines, Spinous Process Osteoarthritis
Summary
The spinous processes are crests of bone along the spine that project upward from the vertebrae. They function as attachment sites on the spine for top-line back muscles. In most cases there is a variable, small gap between these adjacent bones.
In this condition, also known as "Kissing Spines", they are in contact with each other, impacting one another in movement.
This is a potential cause of poor performance and back pain especially among dressage horses, hunters and jumpers. It is more common in Thoroughbreds.
There is debate over whether or not this condition causes pain. Some horses with this condition do not appear to be in pain, and perform well at their intended discipline.
Diagnosis is clinical exam, radiology, nuclear medicine and, to some extent, ultrasound. If radiographs confirm contacting spines, local anesthetic may be injected into the area to see if performance is changed.
Treatment is either medical or surgical. Surgery involves procedures to reduce contact of bone on bone between the spines. A more recent procedure involves cutting the short thick ligament between the adjacent vertebrae at this level.
In this condition, also known as "Kissing Spines", they are in contact with each other, impacting one another in movement.
This is a potential cause of poor performance and back pain especially among dressage horses, hunters and jumpers. It is more common in Thoroughbreds.
There is debate over whether or not this condition causes pain. Some horses with this condition do not appear to be in pain, and perform well at their intended discipline.
Diagnosis is clinical exam, radiology, nuclear medicine and, to some extent, ultrasound. If radiographs confirm contacting spines, local anesthetic may be injected into the area to see if performance is changed.
Treatment is either medical or surgical. Surgery involves procedures to reduce contact of bone on bone between the spines. A more recent procedure involves cutting the short thick ligament between the adjacent vertebrae at this level.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
Rare
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
The prognosis is fair to good with either medical or surgical treatment. But other conditions may coexist with this one.Disc disease or arthritis of the vertebral joints complicates the problem, and worsens the prognosis.
my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
Rare
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Very Common
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- How do we know this is the cause of pain, and not something else?
Prevention
Select horses with appropriate back structure, a moderate back length.
Rounding of the top-line through balanced riding and collection and strengthening of the top-line with proper exercise (long and low) helps separate the spinous processes and lessen the problem.
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health