COMPARISON OF RADIOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN DOGS WITH SPINAL INJURIES
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Date
2022
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Abstract
Most spinal diseases encountered in pet animals are usually associated
with some neurologic dysfunctions with clinical signs like paresis and paraplegia.
Thoracolumbar spinal segment is more prone for spinal injuries.
The common spinal injuries encountered in dogs are inter-vertebral disc
herniation, vertebral fractures, spondylosis and luxations. Neurological deficits in
dogs occurs mainly due to disorders of spinal cord and trauma. Some of the most
common reasons for such trauma are automobile accidents, falls from height,
animal conflicts or rarely, gunshot. In canine practice, it is quiet challenging for
Athe
veterinary practitioners to diagnose and treat these types of critical conditions.
Survey radiography and myelography are the most routinely used methods for the
diagnosis of spinal diseases in veterinary practice but with poor diagnostic
efficiency. Computed Tomography (CT) is now emerging as an important
diagnostic tool especially in orthopaedic cases of animals and has more advantage
over conventional radiographs. The present study was conducted to compare the
radiological and computed tomographical findings in twelve dogs, divided into
group I (normal dogs) and group II (with spinal disorders) presented to Small
Animal Surgery Unit, Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and
Research Institute, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. Twelve dogs irrespective of age, sex
and body weight were selected based on orthopaedic and neurological evaluation.
Plain radiographic examination and computed tomography were performed in all
dogs of group I and II. Group I dogs, revealed normal spinal anatomical features
whereas group II dogs spinal lesions like spondylosis, traumatic intervertebral disc
extrusion, Hansen type-I-disc mineralization, compression vertebral body fracture,
Slatter Harris type I fi-acture, burst fracture were diagnosed. Survey radiograph
provided the anatomical land mark for major lesion with only limited, and indirect
diagnostic details about the spinal injuries. Because of the 2D nature along with
superimposition by unrelated structure made it too difficult to visualize minute
details in the radiograph. CT endowed with contrast resolution with tomographic
nature of prevented problem of superimposition, normally seen in typical
radiograph. Thus, making it ideal for the characterization and localization of
traumatic lesions affecting bones together with complex structure such as
vertebrae, associated with position of fragments in relation to the spinal canal is
extremely useful in the planning the surgery, management and in predicting
prognosis of the patient. Thus, it is concluded that computed tomography was
non-invasive, highly sensitive imaging technique in diagnosing spinal injuries of
dogs than radiography.