title: Atlantoaxial subluxation in two dogs with cervical block vertebrae.
abstract: Atlantoaxial (AA) subluxation is an uncommon disorder that can cause various degrees of neurological deficits in dogs. Block vertebra is a congenital deformation involving the fusion of two or more vertebrae. This report describes two dogs with cervical block vertebrae from C(2) to C(5) and C(2) to C(4), respectively. We hypothesize that the fused cervical vertebrae created a "fulcrum effect" at the AA joint and predisposed these dogs to traumatic AA subluxation.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, National Chung Hsing University, No. 250-1, Guoguang Road, Taichung City 402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jian-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Bradley R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Coolman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001268:Atlanto-Axial Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D001915:Braces / Q000662:veterinary; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome