In most cases–if not all–a clearer picture is better. One would be hard-pressed to find a person who would walk into a store and ask for a television with a fuzzy picture. So when it comes to disease diagnosis, such as that for cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM, also known as cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy), wouldn’t a clearer picture that reveals more information be beneficial? One University of Kentucky researcher thinks so.

During a presentation at the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas, Jennifer Janes, DVM, presented a study supporting the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing spinal cord compression and CSM (more commonly known as wobbler syndrome).

Spinal cord compression due to misaligned or malformed vertebrae damages spinal cord nerves responsible for the horse being able to sense the position of his limbs. This leads to clumsiness and incoordination, especially in the hind limbs, and the distinctive "wobble."

Traditionally, cervical stenotic myelopathy has been diagnosed via standing cervical radiographs and/or a myelogram in association with clinical history and neurologic deficits on physical exam. But while standing cervical radiographs and myelography can detect narrowing of the vertebral canal, they limit visualization of the spinal canal to two dimensions from the side