title: Kinematic Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Evaluation of Disc-Associated Cervical Spondylomyelopathy in Doberman Pinschers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dynamic component of disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DA-CSM) currently is evaluated using traction magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which does not assess changes in flexion and extension of the cervical vertebral column. In humans with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, kinematic MRI is used to identify dynamic compressions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and utility of kMRI in Doberman Pinschers with DA-CSM using a novel positioning device. We hypothesized that kMRI would identify compressive lesions not observed with neutral positioning and change the dimensions of the spinal cord and cervical vertebral canal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine client-owned Doberman Pinschers with DA-CSM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study. After standard MR imaging of the cervical spine confirmed DA-CSM, dogs were placed on a positioning device to allow imaging in flexion and extension. Morphologic and morphometric assessments were compared between neutral, flexion, and extension images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flexion was associated with improvement or resolution of spinal cord compression in 4/9 patients, whereas extension caused worsening of compressions in 6/9 patients. Extension identified 6 new compressive lesions and was significantly associated with dorsal and ventral compression at C5-C6 (P = .021) and C6-C7 (P = .031). A significant decrease in spinal cord height occurred at C6-C7 from neutral to extension (P = .003) and in vertebral canal height at C5-C6 and C6-C7 from neutral to extension (P = .011 and .017, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that kMRI is feasible and provides additional information beyond what is observed with neutral imaging, primarily when using extension views, in dogs with DA-CSM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provencher
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habing
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and the Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: da Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Dynamic; Extension; Flexion; Wobbler