Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Paraspinal muscle differences in small dogs with atlantoaxial
By Müller, Annina et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2022·Tierarztpraxis Emmevet AG·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of Paraspinal Musculature in Small Breed Dogs with and without Atlantoaxial Instability Using Computed Tomography.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of small breed dogs, some with atlantoaxial instability (AAI) and some without, underwent CT scans to compare their neck muscles. The dogs with AAI had less muscle mass in certain areas, particularly when their heads were positioned in specific ways. This suggests that the muscle changes in these dogs are limited and that the position of the head and neck can affect how we evaluate their spinal muscles. Understanding these differences can help veterinarians better assess and treat dogs with AAI.
People also search for: small breed dog neck muscle problems · atlantoaxial instability in dogs · dog CT scan neck evaluation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in paraspinal musculature between dogs with and without atlantoaxial instability (AAI) using computed tomography scans. STUDY DESIGN:  Retrospective multicentre study evaluating transverse reconstructed computed tomography scans of 83 small breed dogs (34 with and 49 without AAI) for the cross-sectional paraspinal musculature area at three levels (Occiput/C1, mid-C1, mid-C2). Ratio of moments, dorsal-to-ventral muscle-area ratios (d-v-ratio) and ratios of the dorsal and ventral musculature to C2 height (d-C2-ratio and v-C2-ratio) were evaluated for differences between groups using multivariate analysis of variance ( < 0.05) taking the head-neck position into account. RESULTS:  Dogs with AAI showed a significantly lower d-v-ratio at levels 2 and 3, d-C2-ratio at level 2 and ratio of moments at all levels. When head-neck positions were analysed separately, ratio of moments was significantly lower in affected dogs at level 1 and 2. Also lower was d-C2-ratio at level 2, but only in flexed positioning. The head-neck position had a significant influence on ratio of moments and d-v-ratio at all three levels and on d-C2-ratio at level 1. CONCLUSION:  Significant changes in muscle area were observed only for the hypaxial muscles at the C1 level, indicating a limited role of muscular adaption in AAI patients. Our results confirm an altered ratio of moments in dogs with AAI. The head-neck position has a significant impact and should be taken into account when evaluating spinal musculature.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35672019/