Wang-Leandro A, Siedenburg JS, Hobert MK, Dziallas P, Rohn K, Stein VM, Tipold A. Comparison of Preoperative Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinical Assessment of Deep Pain Perception as Prognostic Tools for Early Recovery of Motor Function in Paraplegic Dogs with Intervertebral Disk Herniations.
J Vet Intern Med 2017;
31:842-848. [PMID:
28440586 PMCID:
PMC5435037 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.14715]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Prognostic tools to predict early postoperative motor function recovery (MFR) after thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) in paraplegic dogs represent an opportunity to timely implement novel therapies that could shorten recovery times and diminish permanent neurological dysfunctions.
Hypothesis
Fractional anisotropy (FA) values obtained using diffusion tensor imaging have a higher prognostic value than a lesion extension ratio in T2‐weighted images (T2W‐LER) and clinical assessment of deep pain perception (DPP) for MFR.
Animals
Thirty‐five paraplegic dogs with diagnosis of acute or subacute thoracolumbar IVDH.
Methods
Prospective, descriptive observational study. At admission, absence or presence of DPP, T2W‐LER, and FA values was evaluated. MFR was assessed within 4 weeks after decompressive surgery. Values of T2W‐LER and FA of dogs with and without MFR were compared using t‐tests. All 3 methods were evaluated for their sensitivity and specificity as a prognostic factor.
Results
No differences were found between groups regarding T2W‐LER. FA values differed statistically when measured caudally of lesion epicenter being higher in dogs without MFR compared to dogs with MFR (P = .023). Logistic regression analysis revealed significance in FA values measured caudally of the lesion epicenter (P = .033, area under the curve = 0.72). Using a cutoff value of FA = 0.660, the technique had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 55%. Evaluation of DPP had a sensitivity of 73.3% and specificity of 75% (P = .007).
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
Evaluation of DPP showed a similar sensitivity and a better specificity predicting early MFR than quantitative magnetic resonance imaging.
Collapse