Kissing Spines in Horses (Dorsal Spinous Process Impingement)

Kissing spines or Dorsal Spinous Process Impingement is a condition affecting the horse's spine and can be caused either by a sudden traumatic incident such as a fall or from a congenital defect caused by conformation. The condition affects many horses but those most predisposed by their conformation are those with short backs. The condition is diagnosed more frequently in competition horses however this could well be because the greater demands on them means it is more obvious than in hacking horses or pets.

Kissing spines occurs when the spinous process of the vertebrae which points upwards touches the one next to it. This can cause over-riding spinous processes or rubbing which causes arthritis between them. The shorter the horses back the closer the spinous processes are likely to be which is why the conformation is important.

Kissing spines can go unnoticed in some cases however if they interfere with the nerves in the area and cause compression of the soft tissues this can cause severe pain resulting in extreme behaviour and lameness. A reluctance to jump and striking off at whatever gait is a sign. To touch you will feel pain in the muscles either side of the spine under the saddle area. You may also notice that your horse does not have even and well developed topline across his back as he is not using himself correctly.

If you think that your horse may have kissing spines, or any other back problem. Your first port of call should be your vet as they are able to rule out any serious conditions. They may check for kissing spines by carrying out an x-ray of the affected area. This is the only way to get a conclusive diagnosis. If safe to do so they may also inject the area between the spinous processes with anaesthetic and see if the behaviours are still displayed under saddle.

If your horse does have kissing spines your vet has several options available. They will likely start with injecting the spaces between the spinous processes with corticosteroids. This is to reduce inflammation and manage the pain.

Other options include: shock wave therapy, using tildren and surgery. The surgery involves removing the dorsal section of the affected spinous processes and some associated soft tissues. This removes the problem as it removes the bones that were rubbing against each other.

Alternative therapies may relieve some of the symptoms in kissing spines for a short while however are more beneficial in the rehabilitation period.

If you need more information about rehabilitation after surgery of this or any other condition please don't hesitate to contact me.