title: The position and shape of osteophyte formations at canine vertebral endplates and its influence on radiographic diagnosis.
abstract: The relationship between the risk of missing osteophytes in lateral radiographs and their position was determined in a sample of German shepherd dogs (GSDs, n = 42) and dachshunds (DHs, n = 36). Only 10% of osteophytes which were not detected on radiographs were located in the ventral median area (position 1) and classified as type 1 (small spur with narrow base). The highest risk for being affected next to the intervertebral foramen and/or the dorsal area of the vertebral endplate (position 3) was noticed in the lumbar segment (95% CI: 5.2-9.8% in DHs; 11.9-17.7% in GSDs). The minimum risk of missing osteophytes in this position radiologically was 33.3% in the GSDs and 26.4% in the DHs. In the GSDs a higher proportion of type 2 osteophytes (spur with broader base of origin, tending to extend up to half the way along the disc space) was not visualized on radiographs. Peak incidences of osteophytes in positions 1 and 3 were located at the centres of spinal flexion and extension. Therefore, distribution patterns of osteophytes in these positions confirmed mechanical factors being important in pathogenesis of vertebral osteophytosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria. Sabine.Breit@vu-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breit
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Künzel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*