Long‐term effects of treatment and management approaches for impinging dorsal spinous processes in ridden horses

Summary Background Impinging dorsal spinous processes (IDSP) are a common cause of pain and loss of performance in sports horses, with a range of surgical and conservative treatments available. Objectives Identify relationships between treatment choice and the likelihood of returning to previous level of performance for horses diagnosed with IDSP. Study design Cross‐sectional survey of owners with horses diagnosed with IDSP. Methods A 14‐question online survey was circulated via social media. Data were collected for 260 horses and analysed for associations between treatment choice and return to pre‐diagnosis level of performance. Results Just under 50% of horses in the sample returned to their previous level of performance post‐treatment. Horses that were treated surgically had twice the odds of returning to their previous level than those that were not, and horses that underwent an exercise rehabilitation programme had 10 times the odds of returning to level. Main limitations As this was an owner survey, self‐selection bias and recall bias could have influenced the findings. Conclusions If the aim is for the horse to return to a competitive career post‐treatment, the most appropriate surgical intervention appears to be the best approach, and an exercise rehabilitation plan may have benefit.