Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Discospondylitis in dogs - symptoms, scans, treatment, and outcomes
By Van Hoof, Cassie et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2023·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical features, comparative imaging findings, treatment, and outcome in dogs with discospondylitis: A multi-institutional retrospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 386 dogs with discospondylitis, an infection of the spine, showed that male dogs were more commonly affected, with the lower back being the most frequent site of infection. Many of these dogs tested positive for Staphylococcus bacteria. The study found that while X-rays and CT scans agreed on the location of the disease, they did not always match in diagnosing it. Treatment outcomes varied, with prior trauma linked to a higher chance of relapse and previous steroid use associated with worsening neurological issues.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Limited recent data exists regarding discospondylitis in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: (i) Describe the signalment, clinical and imaging findings, etiologic agents, treatment, and outcome of dogs with discospondylitis, (ii) determine diagnostic agreement between radiographs, CT, and MRI with regard to the presence of discospondylitis and its location, and (iii) determine risk factors for relapse and progressive neurological deterioration. ANIMALS: Three hundred eighty-six dogs. METHODS: Multi-institutional retrospective study. Data extracted from medical records were: signalment, clinical and examination findings, diagnostic results, treatments, complications, and outcome. Potential risk factors were recorded. Breed distribution was compared to a control group. Agreement between imaging modalities was assessed via Cohen's kappa statistic. Other analyses were performed on categorical data, using cross tabulations with chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Male dogs were overrepresented (236/386 dogs). L7-S1 (97/386 dogs) was the most common site. Staphylococcus species (23/38 positive blood cultures) were prevalent. There was a fair agreement (κ = 0.22) between radiographs and CT, but a poor agreement (κ = 0.05) between radiographs and MRI with regard to evidence of discospondylitis. There was good agreement between imaging modalities regarding location of disease. Trauma was associated with an increased risk of relapse (P = .01, OR: 9.0, 95% CI: 2.2-37.0). Prior steroid therapy was associated with an increased risk of progressive neurological dysfunction (P = .04, OR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.2-18.6). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Radiograph and MRI results could be discrepant in dogs with discospondylitis. Prior trauma and corticosteroids could be associated with relapse and progressive neurological dysfunction, respectively.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37288966/