title: Congenital cervical kyphosis in two young sighthounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical vertebral (C) malformation is rarely reported in large breed dogs. Congenital cervical kyphosis (CCK) may result from defects of vertebral segmentation, failure of formation or both. This report describes two cases of C3-C4 CCK in young sighthounds, treated surgically.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-month-old female Deerhound and a six-week-old female Borzoi dog were presented because of the complaints of reluctance to exercise and signs of of neck pain. Both dogs were neurologically normal. Diagnostic imaging revealed C3-C4 deformity, moderate kyphosis, and spinal canal stenosis associated with chronic spinal cord pressure atrophy. Both dogs underwent surgical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A staged two-step surgery starting with dorsal decompression was elected in the Deerhound. After the first surgical procedure, the dog developed focal myelomalacia and phrenic nerve paralysis and was euthanatized. A ventral distraction-fusion technique with two locking plates was performed in the Borzoi. This patient recovered uneventfully and long-term follow-up computed tomography revealed complete spondylodesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Until now, CCK has only been described in sighthounds. Congenital cervical kyphosis might be considered a differential diagnosis in these breeds that are presented with signs of cervical pain. Ventral realignment-fusion and bone grafting may be considered for surgical treatment, although the earliest age at which this procedure can and should be performed remains unclear.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Franck Forterre, DVM, DECVS, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Surgery, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 128, 3012 Berne, Switzerland, Phone: +41 31 6312401, Fax: +41 31 6312275, E-mail: franck.forterre@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forterre
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomek
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Precht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Congenital deformity; dog; kyphosis; sighthound; spinal malformation