Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI findings and recovery in dogs with acute back disk herniation
By Levine, J M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2009·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic resonance imaging in dogs with neurologic impairment due to acute thoracic and lumbar intervertebral disk herniation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 159 dogs with back problems due to herniated disks underwent MRI to assess their neurological function and predict recovery. The results showed that dogs with more severe MRI findings had a lower chance of walking again after treatment. Specifically, those with certain MRI features indicating more severe injury were less likely to regain their ability to walk long-term. This information can help veterinarians determine the best treatment options and set realistic expectations for recovery based on MRI results.
People also search for: dog back problems MRI · dog herniated disk treatment · dog unable to walk after injury
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a correlate to physical examination in various myelopathies and a predictor of functional outcome. OBJECTIVES: To describe associations among MRI features, neurological dysfunction before MRI, and functional outcome in dogs with disk herniation. ANIMALS: One hundred and fifty-nine dogs with acute thoracolumbar disk herniation. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Signalment, initial neurological function as assessed by a modified Frankel score (MFS), and ambulatory outcome at hospital discharge and >3 months (long-term) follow-up were recorded from medical records and telephone interview of owners. Associations were estimated between these parameters and MRI signal and morphometric data. RESULTS: Dogs with intramedullary T2W hyperintensity had more severe pre-MRI MFS (median 2, range 0-4) and lower ambulatory proportion at long-term follow-up (0.76) than those dogs lacking hyperintensity (median MFS 3, range 0-5; ambulatory proportion, 0.93) (P=.001 and .013, respectively). Each unit of T2W length ratio was associated with a 1.9 times lower odds of long-term ambulation when adjusted for pre-MRI MFS (95% confidence interval 1.0-3.52, P=.05). Dogs with a compressive length ratio >1.31 (which was the median ratio within this population) had more severe pre-MRI MFS (median 3, range 0-5) compared with those with ratios < or =1.31 (median MFS 3, range 0-4; P=.006). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: MRI features were associated with initial injury severity in dogs with thoracolumbar disk herniation. Based on results of this study, the T2W length ratio and presence of T2W intramedullary hyperintensity appear to be predictive of long-term ambulatory status.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19780928/