title: Development of a functional scoring system in dogs with acute spinal cord injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and compare the reliability of 2 methods of scoring pelvic limb gait in dogs recovering from thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries and to use this scoring system to determine the rate and level of functional recovery of dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniations.
  
  
  METHODS
  46 dogs with spinal cord injuries resulting from intervertebral disk herniations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs' gaits were videotaped at different time intervals after injury. In phase 1 of the study, the stages of recovery of pelvic limb function were identified, and a numeric scoring system was devised to reflect that recovery. In phase 2, pelvic limb gait was scored by different observers, using a numeric and a visual analog scale. Intra- and interobserver coefficients of variability of both methods were compared. In phase 3, pelvic limb function was scored, using the numeric scale at various intervals after acute thoracolumbar disk herniations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The numeric scale was significantly more reliable than the visual analog scale when both intra- and interobserver coefficients of variability were evaluated. Dogs that were paraplegic with no deep pain sensation recovered at different rates during the first 3 months, whereas dogs that were paraplegic with deep pain sensation typically recovered within 1 month of injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pelvic limb gait of dogs recovering from thoracolumbar spinal cord injuries can be reliably quantified, using a numeric scale. This scale will facilitate the performance of clinical trials aimed at improving the outcome of acute spinal cord injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Olby
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Risio
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Muñana
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wosar
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Skeen
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Keene
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000503:physiopathology; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D015588:Observer Variation; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014743:Videotape Recording