Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan method to measure lower spine joint shifts in dogs with back
By Carballo, Oscar et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2024·BluePearl Pet Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Preliminary evaluation of a novel method for computed tomography quantification of lumbosacral articular process displacement in dogs with and without degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs underwent a special type of imaging called computed tomography (CT) to measure the displacement of certain bones in their lower back, which can indicate a condition known as degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS). The researchers found that this new measurement technique was reliable and could help in diagnosing DLSS, especially when the dogs were positioned in a flexed position. However, they noted that more research is needed to confirm these findings and determine how well this method works in different dogs.
People also search for: dog back pain diagnosis · lumbosacral stenosis in dogs · CT scan for dog back problems
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the diagnostic discrimination and reliability of a novel technique for quantifying lumbosacral articular process displacement (LSAPD) on dorsal plane computed tomography (DPCT) imaging in dogs with and without degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS). STUDY DESIGN: DPCT surveys of the lumbosacral vertebral column were performed with dogs positioned in extension and flexion. LSAPD is defined as the distance between the cranial aspects of the L7 and S1 articular processes. The LSAPD ratio is identified by dividing the LSAPD by the length of the L7 articular process. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intra- and inter-observer reliability were calculated, and logistic regressions were used to test for the association of LSAPD and LSAPD ratio with odds of DLSS. Significance was set at 0.05. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated to determine diagnostic discrimination and optimal cutoff for LSAPD and LSAPD ratio in the diagnosis of DLSS. RESULTS: Intra- and inter-observer reliabilities were excellent for most measurements. In the current cohort, excluding covariates, the area under the curve (AUC) (95%CI) for LSAPD and LSAPD ratio measured in a flexed position were both 0.89 (0.82-0.96), suggesting potentially excellent discrimination for using this measurement as a marker for diagnosing DLSS, pending further studies. The cutoffs for flexed LSAPD and LSAPD ratio that maximizes Youden's index were ≥ 1.2 mm and ≥ 9%, respectively. When age and weight were subsequently included as covariates in a multivariable analysis, a significant relationship between LSAPD or LSAPD ratio and odds of diagnosis of DLSS was not demonstrated, suggesting the need for a larger sample size. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that measurements of LSAPD and LSAPD ratio on DPCT are feasible and reliable, although their diagnostic discrimination in DLSS should be evaluated further in future prospective studies.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39166171/