Spine Flashcards
Rads for spine
Good for spinal column
Problems: complex anatomy = superimposition of structures, improper positioning, and underestimation of extent or presence of pathology
How to position the patient properly for spinal rads
Sedation and anesthesia
Helps promote motion artifact, relaxes contracted muscles and anatomy of the vertebral column is complex
What rad views are good for the spine?
Lateral and VD views
Collimation of the x ray beam
If subluxations take lateral first
Vertebral alignment
Spinal curvature
Subluxation/ luxation
Fracture
Spinal Curvature
Lordosis: Ventral devation
Kyphosis: Dorsal deviation
Scoliosis: Lateral deviation
Atlantoaxial subluxation (aa luxation or aa instability)
Dorsal displacement of axis with respect to atlas (SC compression)
Congenital atlantoaxial subluxation
Aplastic/ hypoplastic dens
Malformation in ligaments that support aa joint
Toy/small breeds
Acquired aa subluxation
Any breed
Fracture of the dens or rupture of the aa ligmanents
Rad views of aa luxation
Later and VD (minimum)
Lateral oblique (dens viewed without suprimporsed wings of atlas)
Flexed lateral (use extreme caution)
Rad findings of aa luxation
Widened space between dorsal C1 and C2 spinous process
Blunting/ absence of dens
Radiographic findings of subluxation/ luxation of T-L spine
Narrowed intervertebral disc space
Displacement
Block vertebrae
Fusion of 2 or more vertebral bodies
More common in cervical spine
Sacrum is normal block vertebrae
With block vertebrae there’s an ↑ risk of __________
IVDD
Hemivertebrae
Abnormal development/ ossification of vertebrae
Common in screw-tailed breeds
Abnormal rib spacing a clue
Wedge-shaped hemivertebrae
Ventral aspect incompletely developed
Causes kyphosis
Best seen in lateral views