Abstract
BackgroundOsseous- associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (OA-CSM) has a high prevalence in Great Danes. In order to understand the progression of osseous changes, we aimed to perform a long-term computed tomographic (CT) follow-up study of Great Dane dogs with and without OA-CSM. Canine CSM is comparable to a common neurologic disease often diagnosed in older people termed cervical spondylotic myelopathy or degenerative cervical myelopathy, which is progressive in nature. The natural history of cervical spondylotic myelopathy in people has been well described, whereas there is scarce information on the natural history of canine OA-CSM. Our first goal was to evaluate if follow-up CT studies showed any changes compared to initial CT studies in Great Dane dogs with a diagnosis of OA-CSM. Our second goal was to establish whether clinically normal Great Danes went on to develop any vertebral changes or clinical signs consistent with OA-CSM. We enrolled Great Danes diagnosed with OA-CSM and clinically normal Great Danes who had previously participated in a prospective study. All dogs had clinical and CT follow-up evaluations.ResultsTwelve Great Dane dogs were investigated: six OA-CSM affected and six clinically normal dogs. The median time between CT studies was 28 months (OA-CSM dogs) and 25 months (normal dogs). On follow-up CT, two OA-CSM-affected dogs developed new sites of stenosis, and two clinically normal dogs developed new sites of stenosis (one each). Disc spaces most commonly affected were C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. New sites of foraminal stenosis were noted in two of the CSM-affected and four of the clinically normal dogs. Morphometric evaluation showed no statistically significant differences between the initial and follow-up CT studies in the OA-CSM affected or normal groups.ConclusionOur long-term CT follow-up study documented progression of vertebral canal stenosis in four out of twelve dogs. The majority of dogs did not develop new sites of stenosis or show progression of vertebral lesions.
Highlights
Osseous- associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (OA-Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM)) has a high prevalence in Great Danes
Vertebral canal stenosis secondary to osteoarthritic proliferation of the articular process or laminar/ pedicular malformation and severe foraminal stenosis involving the cervical vertebral canal are characteristic of Osseous- associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (OA-CSM) [8, 9]
Canine CSM is comparable to a common neurologic disease often diagnosed in older people termed cervical spondylotic myelopathy or degenerative cervical myelopathy, which is progressive in nature [10, 11]
Summary
Osseous- associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (OA-CSM) has a high prevalence in Great Danes. In order to understand the progression of osseous changes, we aimed to perform a long-term computed tomographic (CT) follow-up study of Great Dane dogs with and without OA-CSM. Our first goal was to evaluate if follow-up CT studies showed any changes compared to initial CT studies in Great Dane dogs with a diagnosis of OA-CSM. Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM) is a common cause of cervical spinal cord dysfunction in giant and large breed dogs. In OA-CSM, spinal cord and nerve root compression is caused by vertebral canal stenosis secondary to osseous proliferation of the vertebral arch, articular processes, and/or pedicles [1, 2]. Diagnosis of OA-CSM involves imaging evaluation of the cervical vertebral column. The MRI-based morphometry of the cervical vertebral column of clinically normal and OA-CSM affected Great Danes has been reported [2]. Computed tomography was shown to be more consistent for evaluating cervical articular process joints [6]
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