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Ultrasonographic identification of the dorsal atlantoaxial ligament in dogs
Author(s) -
de Vicente Felipe,
Hammond Gawain
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/vsu.12702
Subject(s) - medicine , cadaver , ligament , cadaveric spasm , anatomy , sagittal plane , atlantoaxial instability , dorsum , atlanto axial joint , cervical vertebrae , cervical spine , surgery
Objective To determine the ability to identify the dorsal atlantoaxial ligament during ultrasonographic examination of dogs. Study design Canine cadaveric study. Sample population Canine cervical spines (n = 35). Methods Thirty‐five canine cadavers with an estimated body weight of 6‐35 kg were retrieved. Five cervical spines were dissected to assess the length and thickness of the dorsal atlantoaxial ligament and correlate ultrasound‐guided injection of ink with anatomical dissection. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the dorsal atlantoaxial ligament was performed on 30 cadavers. The visibility of the dorsal atlantoaxial ligament in both the transverse and the sagittal planes was subjectively scored (0‐3). Results The dorsal atlantoaxial ligament was detectable on ultrasonographic examination in all cadavers: 27/30 and 28/30 were graded as moderately visible (grade 2) or clearly visible (grade 3) in the sagittal and transverse view, respectively. Only 1/30 cadaver specimen of a large breed dog was graded as 1 (indistinct) in both the sagittal and transverse planes. None of the cadavers were graded as 0 (not visible) in any view. Conclusion The dorsal atlantoaxial ligament can be identified in ultrasonographic examination of normal canine cadavers. Future studies on animals with clinical atlantoaxial instability/subluxation are needed to evaluate the role of this imaging technique in providing a safer diagnosis of this condition. Clinical relevance Ultrasonographic examination of the dorsal atlantoaxial ligament could potentially provide a noninvasive and safe imaging technique that may contribute to the diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability/subluxation in dogs.