CCSM

Question 1

What is CCSM?

Answer 1

• caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy
• a progressive spinal cord compression like IVDD protrusion, but it is multifactorial in that there are a number of routes form compression and often several will be affecting the dog
  – ventral: IVDD/DLL hypertrophy
  – static
  – medial: facet DJD
  – dorsal: lig flavum
  – dynamic

Question 2

Presentation

Answer 2

• progressive neurological deficits in the cervical spinal cord i.e. proprioceptive ataxia affecting all 4 limbs progressing to tetraparesis/plegia
• can occur at a wide range of ages dependent on the underlying pathology
• predominantly affects large to giant breeds

Question 3

What is DAWS?

Answer 3

= disc associated wobbler syndrome
- dog with some cervical cord compromise from CCSM that subsequently acquires an IVDD protrusion

Question 4

Diagnosis

Answer 4

• required advanced imaging and may require dynamic imaging studies

Question 5

Tx

Answer 5

• some cases may respond to conservative therapy if there’s concussive injury to the spinal cord
• there are a range of surgical options including decompression, distraction or stabilisation, dependent on the underlying aetiology