Open AccessTranscranial magnetic motor evoked potentials and magnetic resonance imaging findings in paraplegic dogs with recovery of motor function
Author(s) -
Siedenburg Johannes S.,
WangLeandro Adriano,
Amendt HannaLuise,
Rohn Karl,
Tipold Andrea,
Stein Veronika M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.15058
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , lesion , hyperintensity , spinal cord , spinal cord injury , lumbar , anesthesia , radiology , surgery , psychiatry
Background Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TMMEP) are associated with severity of clinical signs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs with spinal cord disease. Hypothesis That in initially paraplegic dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH), MRI findings before surgery and TMMEPs obtained after decompressive surgery are associated with long‐term neurological status and correlate with each other. Animals Seventeen client‐owned paraplegic dogs with acute thoracolumbar IVDH. Methods Prospective observational study. TMMEPs were obtained from pelvic limbs and MRI (3T) of the spinal cord was performed at initial clinical presentation. Follow‐up studies were performed ≤ 2 days after reappearance of motor function and 3 months later. Ratios of compression length, intramedullary hyperintensities' length (T2‐weighted hyperintensity length ratio [T2WLR]), and lesion extension (T2‐weighted‐lesion extension ratio) in relation to the length of the 2nd lumbar vertebral body were calculated. Results TMMEPs could be elicited in 10/17 (59%) dogs at 1st and in 16/17 (94%) dogs at 2nd follow‐up. Comparison of TMMEPs of 1st and 2nd follow‐up showed significantly increased amplitudes (median from 0.19 to 0.45 mV) and decreased latencies (from 69.38 to 40.26 ms; P = .01 and .001, respectively). At 2nd follow‐up latencies were significantly associated with ambulatory status ( P = .024). T2WLR obtained before surgery correlated with latencies at 2nd follow‐up ( P = .04). Conclusions TMMEP reflect motor function recovery after severe spinal cord injury.