Merck Manual

Please confirm that you are a health care professional

honeypot link
Professional Version

Lumbosacral Junction Abnormalities in Horses

By

Peter Clegg

, MA, Vet MB, DipECVS, PhD, MRCVS, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Liverpool

Reviewed/Revised Sep 2015 | Modified Oct 2022

Abnormal findings of the lumbosacral junction causing back pain are often detected with ultrasonography and include 1) congenital abnormalities such as lumbosacral ankylosis (sacralization of L6) or intervertebral ankylosis between L5 and L6; 2) disc degenerative lesions, especially affecting the lumbosacral disc (lesions include fissuration or cavitation of the disc, dystrophic mineralization, and ventral herniation); 3) intervertebral malalignment (spondylolisthesis) of the lumbosacral joint or the joint between L5 and L6; and 4) intertransverse lumbosacral osteoarthrosis (periarticular osteophytes or remodeling at the joint margins).

quiz link

Test your knowledge

Take a Quiz!
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
TOP