Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan differences in neck bone shape in dogs with atlantoaxial
By Parry, Andrew T et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2010·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Computed tomography variations in morphology of the canine atlas in dogs with and without atlantoaxial subluxation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 120 dogs had their neck bones (the atlas) examined using advanced imaging to see how their shapes varied, especially in relation to neck problems. Eight dogs were found to have a condition called atlantoaxial subluxation, which can cause neck pain and other cervical (neck) symptoms. Interestingly, many of these dogs also had incomplete ossification (not fully formed bone) of the atlas, particularly among certain breeds like gun dogs. This study suggests that dogs with incomplete ossification of the atlas are more likely to develop atlantoaxial subluxation, which can lead to serious neck issues.
People also search for: dog neck pain · atlantoaxial subluxation in dogs · incomplete ossification atlas dog · gun dog neck problems
Abstract
Computed tomography images of 120 dogs were reviewed to characterize variations in atlas morphology, and to identify breed-specific morphologic features. The neural arch of the atlas was thicker in large dogs and male dogs than in small dogs, having a layer of trabecular bone between the inner and outer layers of compact bone. The transverse processes of the atlas were relatively longer in large dogs than in small dogs. Twelve (10%) dogs had incomplete ossification of the atlas. Incomplete ossification of the atlas was associated with gun dogs. Eight dogs had atlantoaxial subluxation. All eight dogs with atlantoaxial subluxation had cervical signs, whereas none of the seven dogs with incomplete ossification of the atlas unaccompanied by atlantoaxial subluxation had clinical signs referable to that area. Of five dogs with both atlantoaxial subluxation and incomplete ossification of the atlas, four had osseous defects affecting both the intercentrum and neural arch, and one had only an osseous defect affecting the neural arch. There was a strong association between incomplete ossification of the atlas and atlantoaxial subluxation (odds ratio 35.0, 95% CI 7.0-175, P = 0.00002), which supports the hypothesis that incomplete ossification of the atlas predisposes dogs to atlantoaxial subluxation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21158229/