Kinetic and kinematic follow‐up gait analysis in Doberman Pinschers with cervical spondylomyelopathy treated medically and surgically

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2018-05, Vol.32 (3), p.1126-1132
• Main Authors: Foss, Kari D., Smith, Rebecca L., da Costa, Ronaldo C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology; cervical instability; Cervical Vertebrae; digital motion capture; Dog Diseases - physiopathology; Dog Diseases - surgery; Dog Diseases - therapy; Dogs; Female; Gait - physiology; kinematic; kinetic; Male; SMALL ANIMAL; Spinal Cord Compression - physiopathology; Spinal Cord Compression - surgery; Spinal Cord Compression - therapy; Spinal Cord Compression - veterinary; wobbler
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15096

Background The efficacy of treatment of dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM) is commonly based on the owner's and clinician's perception of the gait, which is highly subjective and suffers from observer bias. Hypothesis/Objectives To compare selected kinetic and kinematic parameters before and after treatments and to correlate the findings of gait analysis to clinical outcome. Animals Eight Doberman Pinschers with CSM confirmed by magnetic resonsance imaging. Methods Patients were prospectively studied and treated with either medical management (n = 5) or surgery (n = 3). Force plate analysis and 3‐D kinematic motion capture were performed at initial presentation and approximately 8 weeks later. Force plate parameters evaluated included peak vertical force (PVF). Kinematic parameters measured included number of pelvic limb strides, stifle flexion and extension, maximum and minimum thoracic limb distance, truncal sway, and thoracic limb stride duration. Results Kinematic analysis showed that deviation of the spine to the right (truncal sway) was significantly smaller (P