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Low‐field magnetic resonance changes in the paravertebral musculature of dogs with acute intervertebral disc extrusion
Author(s) -
Furtado A. R. R.,
Cherubini G. B.,
Taeymans O.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/jsap.12979
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , intervertebral disc , intervertebral disk , radiology , anatomy , pathology , lumbar
Objectives To describe the MRI features and prevalence of paravertebral muscle signal intensity changes in dogs with acute intervertebral disc extrusion and to search for associations between the signal changes and clinical history, signalment, neurological examination, serum creatine kinase activity and MRI characteristics of the disc herniation. Materials and Methods Medical records and MRI examinations from 688 dogs with surgically confirmed acute intervertebral disc extrusion were reviewed retrospectively. T2‐weighted and STIR MRI sequences were available for 276 cases and were examined for paravertebral muscle signal intensity changes. When present, extension, lateralisation and signal characteristics of these changes were recorded. Exclusion criteria were muscle injections 24 hours before MRI scan, trauma and previous spinal surgery. Results Nineteen dogs met the inclusion criteria. There were signal changes in the multifidus muscle, mostly in the thoracolumbar region and often extending caudally from the level of the intervertebral disc herniation. Two cases had paravertebral muscle signal intensity changes in the cervical region. MRI signal changes were seen more frequently in the muscles of non‐ambulatory dogs. Clinical history and neuro‐examination did not allow differentiation between dogs with and without paravertebral muscle signal intensity changes. Clinical Significance Paravertebral muscle signal intensity changes were observed infrequently in the epaxial musculature of 6.9% dogs with acute intervertebral disc extrusion in both the thoracolumbar and cervical regions. The pathophysiological processes responsible for these MRI changes remain unknown.