EPIDUROGRAPHY IN THE NORMAL DOG: TECHNIC AND RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

Abstract

Ten clinically normal adult mongrel dogs were examined using lumbosacral epidurography in an effort to determine a reproducible technic and a normal radiographic appearance. The site of contrast medium injection was the ventral epidural space at the sacrococcygeal junction or the cranial coccygeal region. An initial dose of 0.15 ml/kg of metrizamide for the right lateral recumbent radiograph with 0.10 ml/kg additional metrizamide for additional right lateral or the subsequent dorsoventral radiographs was considered adequate. Two numerical values were observed for each normal epidurogram: the sacrovertebral angle; the ratio of the contrast medium column width to L6 body length. A statistically significant relationship between hindlimb positioning and the numerical value of the sacrovertebral angle was identified. Some advantages of epidurography for delineating the lumbosacral area are obvious: (1) it overcomes the limited value of lumbosacral area myelography; (2) it is technically easier than intraosseous vertebral venography; (3) there is minimal patient trauma; (4) there was no apparent adverse sequela to repeated contrast medium injections.