Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Neurological signs and MRI in Dobermanns with neck disc disease
By Stabile, F et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2015·Centre for Small Animal Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Neurological signs and pre- and post-traction low-field MRI findings in Dobermanns with disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 25 Dobermanns with neck problems were examined for signs of neurological issues and underwent MRI scans to check for specific spinal disc problems. The researchers found that degeneration of the C7-T1 intervertebral disc was linked to a type of spinal issue that responded well to a treatment called linear traction. However, the overall neurological signs did not predict whether the dogs would benefit from this treatment. Understanding these MRI findings can help veterinarians determine the best approach for managing neck pain in Dobermanns.
People also search for: Doberman neck pain treatment · dog cervical spondylomyelopathy symptoms · linear traction for dog spinal issues
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the presence of neurological signs and magnetic resonance imaging findings could predict the presence of a traction-responsive lesion in Dobermanns affected by disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy. METHODS: Retrospective review of neurological signs and low-field pre- and post-traction magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities of the cervical spine (abnormal vertebral body shape and vertebral tipping, intervertebral disc degeneration, protrusion and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy) in Dobermanns with disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy. The main outcome of interest was response to linear traction (dynamic versus static) at C6-C7 intervertebral disc space. The association between investigated variables and response to linear traction was assessed. RESULTS: The study included 25 dogs. No association was identified between neurological status grading and the presence of a static or traction-responsive lesion. Of the investigated magnetic resonance findings, C7-T1 intervertebral disc degeneration was significantly (P = 0 · 03) associated with the presence of a traction-responsive lesion at C6-C7 intervertebral disc space. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The presence of C7-T1 intervertebral disc degeneration might help in predicting the presence of traction-responsive C6-C7 intervertebral disc lesions.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25703715/