Random from Tobias & Johnston Flashcards
Common sites for discospondylitis?
Caudal cervical, mid-thoracic and thoracolumbar regions, and lumbosacral space
Most common concurrent condition associated with discospondylitis?
UTIs
Most common sites for spinal arachnoid cysts?
Cranial cervical and caudal thoracic regions
What radiographic finding is most predictive of atlantoaxial instability?
An angle of <162 degrees between the atlas and the axis on lateral radiographs is more predictive of instability than a decrease in AA overlap
With regards to cervical disc disease, what factors are associated with an increased risk of peri-op hypoventilation?
Lesions between C2 and C4 and treatment by means of a dorsal decompressive laminectomy are associated with an increased risk of peri-op hypoventilation
For ventral distraction-stabilization of the cervical spine using pins or screws with PMMA, what is the recommended angle of pin/screw insertion in the cervical vertebrae?
30-35 degrees dorsolaterally except in C7, which is 45 degrees
With partial injuries of the brachial plexus, which part of the brachial plexus is most commonly affected?
Caudal brachial plexus
Name the nerves that are branches of the brachial plexus.
Brachiocephalic, suprascapular, subscapular, axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, median, ulnar, dorsal thoracic, lateral thoracic, long thoracic, pectoral, and muscular branches
Which nerves are affected in cranial brachial plexus avulsions?
Musculocutaneous, axillary, subscapular, suprascapular
Which nerves are affected in caudal brachial plexus avulsions?
Radial, median, ulnar
Clinical signs of cranial brachial plexus avulsions?
Loss of shoulder movement, elbow flexion, atrophy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles
Clinical signs of caudal brachial plexus avulsions?
Carrying of the limb in a flexed position because the cranial nerve roots are intact but weight-bearing is impossible without the ability to extend the elbow and carpus due to paralysis of the triceps brachii muscle, partial Horner’s syndrome (miosis), +/- loss of cutaneous trunk reflex ipsilateral to the site of the avulsion
What is the importance of the accessory process as a landmark during spinal surgery?
The accessory process is an important landmark for identifying the ventral aspect of the spinal canal
What is removed in a Funkquist A dorsal laminectomy?
Spinous process, laminae, articular processes, and approximately half of the pedicles of a vertebra
What is removed in a Funkquist B dorsal laminectomy?
Spinous process and laminae, leaving the articular processes and pedicles intact
What T2W length of hyperintensity on MRI to L2 vertebral length ratio is a negative prognostic factor in thoracolumbar IVDD?
T2W length of hyperintensity on MRI to L2 vertebral length ratio of 5 or higher is a negative prognostic factor
The ratio of the length of cord swelling to the length of L2 on myelography is a negative prognostic factor in thoracolumbar IVDD. What ratio is associated with development of progressive myelomalacia?
Ratio of length of cord swelling to length of L2 on myelography >7.4 is associated with development of progressive myelomalacia
What are common neuro exam findings in animals with significant sciatic deficits?
Failure of hock flexion during testing of the withdrawal reflex, loss of antagonistic muscle tone resulting in the appearance of a falsely exaggerated patellar reflex
For diagnosis of lumbosacral disease, CT imaging in what position accentuates foraminal compression and disc protrusion?
CT imaging in an extended position accentuates foraminal compression and disc protrusion
List some MRI findings of intracranial meningiomas.
Distinct tumor margins, uniform contrast enhancement, broad-based extra-axial mass effect, dural tail sign
List some MRI findings of intracranial gliomas.
Intraxial mass growing toward the periphery of the brain, highly infiltrative and invading normal brain parenchyma, lack of distinct tumor margins, poor non-uniform contrast enhancement
How are pituitary microadenomas differentiated from macroadenomas?
Pituitary microadenomas can be differentiated from macroadenomas on the basis of pituitary height-to-brain ratio - a height-to-brain ratio <0.31 is consistent with a microadenoma
Hypophysectomy via transsphenoidal or ventral paramedian approaches for pituitary tumors has been associated with excellent outcomes - is it useful for microadenomas or macroadenomas?
Hypophysectomy via transsphenoidal or ventral paramedian approaches is useful for microadenomas; radiation therapy is recommended for macroadenomas
With MRI, name a fat suppression technique and a fluid suppression technique.
Fat suppression technique: Short tau inversion recovery (STIR)
Fluid suppression technique: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)