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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2017; 30(06): 424-429
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-17-01-0004
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Incidence of Abnormalities of the Second and Third Cervical Vertebral Junction in Dogs with Atlantoaxial Instability: A Multicentre Study

M. Schneider
1   Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern Switzerland
,
M. Waschk
1   Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern Switzerland
,
M. C. Precht
1   Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern Switzerland
,
C. Nathues
2   Department of Clinical Research and Public Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern Switzerland
,
P. Moissonnier
3   Department of Surgery, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Veterinary School of Maisons Alfort, Paris, France
,
T. Aikawa
4   Aikawa Veterinary Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
,
D. Schnötzinger
5   Tierklinik Schwanenstadt, Schwanenstadt, Austria
,
M. Schmidt
6   Clinic for Small Animal Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
,
D. Garosi
7   Davies Veterinary Specialists Limited, Hitchin, United Kingdom Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2017
,
F. Forterre
1   Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 12 January 2017

accepted after revision 15 August 2017

Publication Date:
04 December 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To evaluate the occurrence and frequency of abnormalities at the second and third cervical vertebral junction (C2/3) in dogs with and without atlantoaxial instability (AAI).

Study Design Retrospective multi-institutional case-controlled case series.

Animals One hundred and seventeen dogs with AAI and 117 dogs without AAI.

Methods Radiographs, together with computer tomographic images or magnetic resonanceimagesorboth, of thecranial cervical spineof dogswerereviewed for the presence or absence of intervertebral disc–related anomalies, osseous fusion of the vertebrae, spondylosis, or any other anomaly of the C2/3.

Results The incidence of anomalies affecting the C2/3 in dogs with AAI was 38.46% (n = 45) and in the control group it was 11.97% (n = 14). The majority of the observed anomalies involved the intervertebral disc. In conjunction with AAI, intervertebral disc– related anomalies were noted in 33.34%, spondylosis in 2.56%, osseous fusion in 1.71% and a hypoplasia of the spinous process in 0.85% of the cases. Summarized under the term intervertebral disc–related anomalies, a morphological alteration of the intervertebral disc was noted in 10 cases with AAI, characterized by a spherical outer shape and a minimally reduced size and a dorsal positioning in the intervertebral space.

Conclusion There is a significantly higher incidence of anomalies affecting the C2/3 in associationwithAAI.InconjunctionwithAAI, intervertebraldisc–related anomalies are the mostfrequentpathological finding affecting the C2/3.

Keywords

atlantoaxial instability - craniocervical junction - C2/3 junction anomalies
 

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