¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·

 Published: 01 Aug 2025 | Last Updated: 01 Aug 2025 10:00:31

The ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· (¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·) has announced the expansion of its Equine Referral Hospital services to include a pioneering surgical procedure for horses with cervical spinal nerve compression. From 1^st August 2025, the introduction of uniportal endoscopic foraminotomy will offer horse owners and referring veterinary surgeons a viable treatment option for this condition, where previously only limited options were available to prevent long-term suffering.

The spinal cord runs inside the bony spinal canal that is formed by the adjacent vertebrae. From the central spinal cord, individual spinal nerves arise that travel into the periphery of the body connecting extremities with the central spinal cord and brain. The nerve roots exit the spinal canal via the intervertebral foramen (IVF), an opening on either side between two adjacent vertebrae. The IVF is unique since its boundaries consist of two movable joints: the ventral (non-synovial) intervertebral joint and the dorsal (synovial) articular process joint (APJ). Pathological changes to one or both joints can result in narrowing of the IVF, causing cervical spinal nerve compression, the most common of which is at the 6^th (C6) and 7^th (C7) vertebrae at the base of the horse’s neck.

When experiencing cervical spinal nerve compression, horses can exhibit one, or a combination, of the following clinical signs: neck pain/stiffness; intermittent or persistent forelimb lameness; proprioceptive deficits (i.e. stumbling, falls); and poor performance (i.e. ridden complaints).

Funding from the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· Animal Care Trust, Betty Phillips Charitable Trust and Follett Trust provided vital equipment and enabled the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·’s equine surgeons, led by Dr Alex Hawkins, Lecturer in Equine Surgery at the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·’s Equine Referral Hospital, to undertake specialist training. This was initially conducted in Germany and later at the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· itself - under the guidance of Dr Jan-Hein Swagemakers, the developer of the surgical technique.

To facilitate this service, the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· team will conduct clinical examinations before identifying suitable surgical candidates using the recently installed Qalibra computed tomography (CT) machine. The minimally invasive procedure will then be performed, on suitable candidates, under general anaesthesia to remove excess bone, relieve nerve compression and create more space within the spinal canal – ultimately reducing pain and improving neurological function.

With only one other established equine hospital currently offering this treatment in the UK, these collaborative and pioneering efforts (supported by the expertise of RIWO Spine UK and Dr Rachel Tucker from Liphook Equine Hospital) enhance the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·’s ability to expand its equine clinical services and deliver the highest standard of care for horses affected by this debilitating condition.

Following the launch of this service, the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· team will be embarking on a collaborative research project with the aim of improving diagnosis and treatment for equine patients by deepening understanding of the anatomy, surgical techniques and advanced imaging of the equine cervical intervertebral foramen.

Dr Alex Hawkins, Lecturer in Equine Surgery at the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· Equine Referral Hospital, said:

“We are excited to introduce uniportal endoscopic foraminotomy as a surgical option at the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·’s Equine Referral Hospital. Developed by Dr. Jan-Hein Swagemakers, this innovative, minimally invasive surgery offers new hope for owners with horses suffering from chronic or debilitating neck pain, helping to improve their comfort, mobility, and overall quality of life. It also offers referring veterinarians a reliable, evidence-based option for managing suitable cases of cervical spinal nerve compression.

“More than 300 surgeries have now been performed worldwide with early outcomes showing promising results (reported to be an approximately 80% success rate) and so we encourage colleagues to consider this minimally invasive procedure for horses showing clinical signs consistent with foraminal stenosis, particularly those not responding to conservative management.”

Notes to Editors

¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· Equine Hospital patients must be referred by a general practice or first opinion vet.

For more information about the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· Equine Hospital, visit: /equine-vet/hospital-and-specialists

Media contacts

• rvc@plmr.co.uk
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·

• The ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· (¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ·) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with associated recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and AVMA (probationary) in the USA and Canada.
• The ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2025.
• The ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.
• The ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· is a research-led institution, with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
• The ¹ú²ú¸ßÇåavÍøÖ· provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.