OBJECTIVE  Surgical fusion of vertebral segments is a treatment option for horses with cervical stenotic myelopathy or cervical fracture.Degenerative disease affecting adjacent vertebral segments is a reported complication following surgical vertebral fusion in other species, termed adjacent segment disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cervical vertebral fusion on the biomechanics of adjacent vertebral segments in the horse. STUDY DESIGN  Neck specimens of 12 horses were assessed using computed tomographic imaging. Range of motion (ROM) was determined by measuring the maximum sagittal flexion, extension and lateral bending between C2 and C5. C3/4 was subsequently fused using a standard locking compression plate and locking head screws and computed tomographic scans and ROM measurements were repeated. RESULTS  Prior to intervertebral fusion, a significant increase in ROM along the vertebral segments from cranial to caudal was observed. Range of motion measurements of C3/4 decreased significantly after fusion (p = 0.01).Range of motion of the adjacent segments (C2/3 and C4/5) did not change significantly after fusion. CONCLUSION  Fusion of one cervical intervertebral joint did not affect the ROM of the adjacent vertebral segments. Further research investigating the implications of vertebral fusion on the intervertebral pressure in the equine patient is indicated.

中文翻译：

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马第三和第四颈椎椎体离体融合后邻近节段运动的计算机断层扫描评估。

目的椎节的外科融合术是治疗患有颈椎狭窄性脊髓病或颈椎骨折的马的一种治疗选择。据报道，影响相邻椎节的退行性疾病是其他物种经椎椎融合后发生的并发症，称为相邻节病。这项研究的目的是评估颈椎融合对马匹中相邻椎骨节段的生物力学的影响。研究设计使用计算机断层扫描成像技术评估12匹马的颈标本。通过测量C2和C5之间的最大矢状弯曲，伸展和横向弯曲来确定运动范围（ROM）。随后使用标准锁定压缩板和锁定头螺钉将C3 / 4融合，并重复进行计算机断层扫描和ROM测量。结果椎间融合之前，从颅骨到尾椎骨沿椎体节段的ROM明显增加。融合后C3 / 4的运动测量范围显着降低（p = 0.01）。融合后相邻节段（C2 / 3和C4 / 5）的运动范围没有明显变化。结论融合一个颈椎椎间盘并不影响相邻椎节的ROM。指出了进一步研究椎骨融合对马患者椎间压力的影响的研究。融合后，相邻节段（C2 / 3和C4 / 5）的运动范围没有明显变化。结论融合一个颈椎椎间盘并不影响相邻椎节的ROM。指出了进一步研究椎骨融合对马患者椎间压力的影响的研究。融合后，相邻节段（C2 / 3和C4 / 5）的运动范围没有明显变化。结论融合一个颈椎椎间盘并不影响相邻椎节的ROM。指出了进一步研究椎骨融合对马患者椎间压力的影响的研究。