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
Butterfly-shaped hemivertebrae
Mid aspect of body incompletely developed
Best seen in VD/DV views
K9 vertebral formula
C7 T13 L7 S3 Cd18-21
Feline vertebral formula
C7 T13 L7 S3 Cd6-23
Equine vertebral formula
C7 T18 L6 S5 Cd15-21
Where do transitional vertebrae occur
@ junctions cervicothoracic (C7,T1), Thoracolumbar (T13,L1), lumbosacral (L7,S1)
Transitional vertebrae
When vertebrae @ one of the junctions exhibits anatomic characteristics of adjoining region
C7 vestigal ribs, hypoplastic ribs of T13 or L1, fusion of L7 transverse process with ilial wing
What causes decreased opacity on spinal rads?
Focal/ multifocal osteopenia (neoplasia, discospondylitis, spondylitis)
Discospondylitis
Infection of the intervertebral disc and endplates
Radiographic findings of discospondylitis
Endplate lysis and sclerosis
Narrowing/ collapse of intervertebral disc space
New bone formation/ spondylosis deformans
Spondylosis Deformans
Benign dz showing ↑ opacity
Middle aged and geriatric animals
Smooth bony proliferation ventrally
Radiographic findings of intervertebral disc dz
Narrowed intervertebral disc space
Mineralized disc material
Myelogram
Positive contrast media injected into the subarachnoid space surrounding the SC
Non-ionic iodinated contrast only
Indications for myelogram
Outlining of SC in vertebral canal helps to determine of surgical lesion is present → SC compression or swelling, extent of lesion
Complications of myelogram
Seizures
Vomiting/ nausea
Transient muscle spasms
Transient apnea
Death
Myelography procedure
General anesthesia and survey radiographs
Sterile prep of surgical site (cerebellomedullary cistern/ atlanto-occipital junction)
Lumbar L5/L6 or L4/L5
Extradural lesion
Intervertebral disc herniation
Hemorrhage
Ligamentous hypertrophy
Neoplasia
Subluxation/ luxation
Stenosis
Intradural- extramedullary lesions
Subarachnoid
Diverticulum/ cyst
Neoplasia
Fungal granuloma
Intramedullary lesions
Edema
Contusion
Neoplasia
Fungal granuloma
