Comparison of angle, shape, and position of articular processes in Dobermans and Great Danes with and without cervical spondylomyelopathy

• Published in: BMC veterinary research 2017-03, Vol.13 (1), p.77-77, Article 77
• Main Authors: Bonelli, Marília de Albuquerque, da Costa, Ronaldo Casimiro, Martin-Vaquero, Paula, Lima, Carolina Gonçalves Dias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Case-Control Studies; Cervical Vertebrae - pathology; Compression; Dog Diseases - pathology; Dogs; Female; Hypotheses; Intervertebral discs; Ligaments; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - veterinary; Male; Morphology; Morphometry; Motion stability; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Pathogenesis; Skin & tissue grafts; Spinal cord; Spinal Cord Compression - pathology; Spinal Cord Compression - veterinary; Spine; Spine (cervical); Studies; Vertebrae
• ISSN: 1746-6148; 1746-6148
• DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-0997-4

Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM), also known as wobbler syndrome, affects mainly large and giant-breed dogs, causing compression of the cervical spinal cord and/or nerve roots. Structural and dynamic components seem to play a role in the development of CSM; however, pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Physiologic and pathologic movements of the cervical spine depend on the morphology and morphometry of articular processes, as well as on intervertebral discs and vertebral column ligaments. Moreover, the characteristics of the articular processes affect motion and stability of the vertebral column. The goal of this study was to investigate the angle, shape, and position of the articular surfaces within the articular processes and compare them between Doberman Pinschers and Great Danes with and without cervical spondylomyelopathy. Magnetic resonance images were obtained for 60 dogs: 15 clinically normal Dobermans (Dob-N), 15 CSM-affected Dobermans (Dob-CSM), 15 clinically normal Great Danes (GD-N), and 15 CSM-affected Great Danes (GD-CSM). Angle, shape, and position (lateral distance) of the articular surfaces from the articular processes were analyzed from C to C -T . Results indicate that the mean angle was different between Dob-CSM and GD-CSM at C , C , and C , and between GD-N and GD-CSM at C . There were differences between Dob-N and GD-N, and between Dob-CSM and GD-CSM for the lateral distance at most locations, except C . Compared with Great Danes, Dobermans generally had a greater proportion of concave caudal surfaces at C , C , and C . Concave articular surfaces have been associated with greater axial rotation. This may explain the high proportion of disc-associated CSM in Dobermans compared to Great Danes. The differences between breeds suggest they may have different motion patterns in the caudal cervical vertebral column. Considering that no differences in angle, shape, or position of the articular surfaces within the articular processes were found between normal and CSM-affected dogs, their relevance appears to have a secondary role in the pathogenesis of CSM.