Abstract
Describe computed tomographic (CT) anatomy of canine lumbosacral (LS) paraspinal muscles, a method for measuring paraspinal muscle transverse area ratios and asymmetry using CT, and application of this method in a small sample of working dogs with versus without LS pain. Published anatomy references and atlases were reviewed and discrepancies were resolved by examination of anatomic specimens and multiplanar reformatted images to describe transverse CT anatomy of LS region paraspinal muscles. Sixteen Belgian malinois military working dogs were retrospectively recruited and assigned to LS pain positive versus negative groups based on medical record entries. A single observer unaware of dog group measured CT transverse areas of paraspinal muscles and adjacent vertebral bodies, in triplicate, for L5-S1 vertebral locations. A statistician compared muscle transverse area ratios and asymmetry at each vertebral location between groups. The relative coefficient of variation for triplicate CT area measurements averaged 2.15% (N = 16). Multifidus lumborum (L6-7), psoas/iliopsoas (L5-6, L6-7), and sacrocaudalis dorsalis lateralis (L6-7, L7-S1) transverse area ratios were significantly smaller in dogs with LS pain (n = 11) versus without LS pain (n = 5) (p ≤ 0.05). Muscle asymmetry values were not significantly greater in dogs with versus without LS pain. Computed tomographic morphometry of LS region paraspinal muscles is a feasible objective method for use in future evidence-based research studies in working dogs. Potential future research applications include determining whether decreased paraspinal muscle area ratios and/or increased paraspinal muscle asymmetry could be used as markers for preclinical LS pain in stoic dogs or risk factors for other injuries in high performance canine athletes, or determining whether core muscle strengthening exercise prescriptions for dogs with LS pain have an effect on paraspinal muscle area ratios and asymmetry.
Highlights
Lower back [lumbosacral (LS)] pain (LBP) is an important cause of debilitation and early retirement in working dogs [1,2,3]
Dogs in the LS pain negative group had been presented for Computed tomography (CT) scanning for the following reasons: hindlimb lameness (n = 2) and another research project (n = 3)
Application of the method was illustrated in a small sample of working dogs with versus without clinically detected LS pain
Summary
Lower back [lumbosacral (LS)] pain (LBP) is an important cause of debilitation and early retirement in working dogs [1,2,3]. High drive, or aggressive working dogs, clinical detection of LBP may be difficult to demonstrate. For these dogs, diagnosis of LBP may be based on observed performance deficits, such as altered LS region posture during working tasks, reluctance to perform tasks requiring hyperextension of the LS spine, and/or altered movement of the tail [4]. In order to minimize risks of these complications, core muscle-strengthening and conditioning exercise prescriptions are increasingly being recommended and implemented for preventing or treating LBP in canine athletes [10,11,12,13,14] there are few evidence-based research studies supporting these prescriptions. A non-invasive, repeatable technique for objectively quantifying characteristics of LS region paraspinal muscles would be helpful for supporting development of these evidence-based research studies
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