- Veterinary View Box
- Posts
- Findings in dogs with nerve root signatures from IVDD
Findings in dogs with nerve root signatures from IVDD
JVIM 2024
Jordan Schachar, Alan Bocage, Nathan C. Nelson, Peter J. Early, Christopher L. Mariani, Natasha J. Olby, Karen R. Muñana
Background: Intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is a common spinal cord disease in dogs that can cause nerve root signature (NRS), a syndrome of pain and limb elevation. The clinical and imaging features of NRS associated with cervical IVDH are not well described.
Study: A retrospective study of 47 dogs with NRS and MRI-confirmed cervical IVDH, aiming to detail the location and severity of disc herniation and neural tissue compression.
Methods: Medical records and MRI studies were reviewed for data on breed, age, weight, sex, clinical signs, disc site, laterality, spinal cord compression, and foraminal involvement. Interobserver agreement and statistical analysis were performed for the imaging variables.
Results: NRS was most common with C6-C7 disc herniation (32%), followed by C5-C6 and C4-C5 (19% each). Disc material was more likely to be located laterally (74%) and to cause foraminal compression (66%) than medially (26%) or without foraminal compression (34%). Spinal cord compression was present in 66% of dogs, mostly mild (65%). Foraminal compression was mostly proximal (87%) and high (60%).
Limitations: The retrospective nature of the study, the lack of standardized imaging protocols, the variation in timing of imaging relative to clinical signs, and the possible presence of other spinal abnormalities that could affect NRS.
Conclusions: NRS can occur with cervical IVDH at any disc site, but is more likely with caudal cervical disc sites, lateral disc herniations, and foraminal compression. NRS is not solely dependent on nerve root involvement of the brachial plexus, but could be related to the quality or location of pain or inflammation.
T2-weighted transverse magnetic resonance images of the cervical spine of dogs with nerve root signature associated with intervertebral disc herniation demonstrating (A) C6-C7 herniation resulting in mild compression of the left lateral aspect of the spinal cord and proximal foraminal compression (arrow); (B) C6-C7 distal foraminal herniation (arrow); (C) C6-C7 herniation with obliteration of the left ventrolateral subarachnoid space but no spinal cord compression, and proximal foraminal compression (arrow); (D) C6-C7 herniation resulting in moderate compression of the spinal cord, most severe in the medial quadrant, and proximal foraminal compression (arrow); (E) C5-C6 herniation with severe, spinal cord compression in the right medial quadrant (arrow); and (F) C2-C3 herniation resulting in mild compression of the spinal cord, with the largest volume of extruded disc material noted in the right lateral quadrant (arrow).
How did we do? |
Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.