Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does MRI spinal compression in dogs match their symptoms
By Mayhew, Philipp D et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2002·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association of cauda equina compression on magnetic resonance images and clinical signs in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 27 dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (a condition affecting the lower spine) underwent MRI to check for compression in their spinal canal. The study found that the amount of compression seen on the MRI did not directly relate to how severe the dogs' symptoms were. This means that even if the MRI shows significant compression, it doesn't always indicate how much pain or difficulty the dog is experiencing. The findings suggest that veterinarians should consider other factors when assessing the severity of this condition in dogs.
People also search for: dog back pain MRI · degenerative lumbosacral stenosis symptoms · dog spine compression treatment
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to examine the lumbosacral spine of 27 dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. Four normal dogs were also similarly imaged. Compression of the soft-tissue structures within the vertebral canal at the lumbosacral space was assessed in two ways: by measuring dorsoventral diameter on T1-weighted sagittal images and cross-sectional area on transverse images. The severity of the clinical signs was compared to the severity of cauda equina compression. No significant correlation was found. It is concluded that degree of compression as determined by MRI at time of presentation is independent of disease severity.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12428888/