Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI and symptoms linked to recovery in dogs with ischemic spinal
By De Risio, Luisa et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2008·The Centres for Small Animal Studies, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association of clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings with outcome in dogs suspected to have ischemic myelopathy: 50 cases (2000-2006).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 50 dogs suspected of having ischemic myelopathy (a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the spinal cord) were evaluated for their symptoms and MRI findings to see how these factors related to their recovery. The dogs had varying degrees of neurologic dysfunction, with scores indicating the severity of their symptoms. It was found that the more severe the initial symptoms and the larger the lesions seen on MRI, the worse the outcome for the dogs. This information can help veterinarians predict recovery chances based on early assessments and imaging results.
People also search for: dog ischemic myelopathy symptoms · MRI findings in dogs · dog spinal cord injury recovery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether clinical signs or magnetic resonance imaging findings were associated with outcome in dogs with presumptive ischemic myelopathy. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 50 dogs. PROCEDURES: Medical records and magnetic resonance images were reviewed. A neurologic score from 1 (normal) to 5 (most severe degree of dysfunction) was assigned on the basis of neurologic signs at the time of initial examination. Follow-up information was obtained from the medical records and by means of a telephone questionnaire completed by owners and referring veterinarians. RESULTS: Median neurologic score at the time of initial examination was 3 (range, 2 to 5). Median follow-up time was 584 days (range, 4 to 2,090 days). Neurologic score at the time of initial examination and extent of the lesion seen on magnetic resonance images (quantified as the lesion length-to-vertebral length ratio and as the percentage cross-sectional area of the lesion) were significantly associated with outcome. Sensitivity of using a lesion length-to-vertebral length ratio > 2.0 or a percentage cross-sectional area of the lesion > or = 67% to predict an unsuccessful outcome was 100%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that severity of neurologic signs at the time of initial examination and extent of the lesions seen on magnetic resonance images were associated with outcome in dogs with ischemic myelopathy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18593322/