title: The effect of kyphoscoliosis on intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs.
abstract: In people, abnormalities in vertebral column conformation, such as kyphoscoliosis, induce degenerative changes in adjacent intervertebral disc (IVD) structure and composition. It was hypothesised that canine IVDs adjacent to a vertebral malformation undergo early degeneration. In a blinded retrospective study, thoracic IVD degeneration was evaluated in 14 dogs on magnetic resonance images using Pfirrmann's grade. IVDs adjacent to a vertebral malformation had higher grades of degeneration than non-adjacent IVDs (P < 0.0001). There was an age-dependency, with dogs between 1 and 4 years showing higher grade of degeneration in adjacent than non-adjacent IVDs (P < 0.0001). Conversely, in older dogs, all IVDs - including the non-adjacents - showed degenerative signs, possibly due to normal aging. These results suggest that congenital vertebral malformation results in early degeneration of adjacent IVDs.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
authors.forename: Kiterie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Faller
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penderis
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stalin
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guevar
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yeamans
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK. Electronic address: rodrigo.gutierrezquintana@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Quintana
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000662:veterinary*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Congenital Vertebral Malformation; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Kyphoscoliosis; Kyphosis; Scoliosis