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Sherif T, Twele F, Meller S, Müller-Anders A, Volk HA. Quantification of spinal ataxia in dogs with thoracolumbar spinal cord injury. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1183755. [PMID: 37614460 PMCID: PMC10442642 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1183755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical sign of ataxia is related to several neurological diseases and is seen in conjunction with paresis in dogs with spinal cord injury (SCI). Endeavours to objectify canine spinal ataxia in SCI remain limited. The aim of this clinical study was to determine and quantify differences between gait characteristics of ataxic dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy and healthy control dogs using a computer-and treadmill-based gait analysis system. Five dogs with spinal ataxia and six healthy dogs underwent video-and computer-assisted gait analysis while walking on a four-ground reaction force plate treadmill system (maximum speed of 0.7 m/s). Spatio-temporal and kinetic gait characteristics regarding the dogs' locomotion were analysed with a focus on the individual coefficient of variation (CV), as a potential measure for quantification of the level of ataxia. Ataxic dogs with thoracolumbar SCI showed no effect on symmetry indices but higher variability in spatio-temporal and kinetic gait parameters mainly in the pelvic, but also in the thoracic limbs. Double support phase of the individual limb was prolonged in SCI dogs at the cost of the single support and swing phase. Reduced peaks of ground reaction forces (GRF) could potentially be explained by reduction of muscle strength, as a strategy of avoiding falling by taking enthusiastic steps, or by alteration of the rhythmogenic spinal circuits between the pelvic and thoracic limb pattern generators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Holger A. Volk
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Gonçalves R, Maddox TW, Phillipps S, Nagendran A, Cooper C, Orlandi R, Fentem R, Walmsley GL. Development of a reliable clinical assessment tool for meningoencephalitis in dogs: The neurodisability scale. J Vet Intern Med 2023; 37:1111-1118. [PMID: 37092590 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) comprises a group of debilitating inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system of dogs. Currently, no validated clinical scale is available for the objective assessment of MUO severity. OBJECTIVES Design a neurodisability scale (NDS) to grade clinical severity and determine its reliability and whether or not the score at presentation correlates with outcome. ANIMALS One hundred dogs with MUO were included for retrospective review and 31 dogs were subsequently enrolled for prospective evaluation. METHODS Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 100 dogs diagnosed with MUO to identify the most frequent neurological examination findings. The NDS was designed based on these results and evaluated for prospective and retrospective use in a new population of MUO patients (n = 31) by different groups of independent blinded assessors, including calculation of interobserver agreement and association with outcome. RESULTS The most common clinical signs in MUO patients were used to inform categories for scoring in the NDS: seizure activity, ambulatory status, posture and cerebral, cerebellar, brainstem, and visual functions. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for prospective use of the NDS was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-0.91) indicating good agreement, and moderate agreement was found between prospective and retrospective assessors (ICC, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.83). No association was found between NDS score and long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The NDS is a novel clinical measure for objective assessment of neurological dysfunction and showed good reliability when used prospectively in MUO patients but, in this small population, no association with outcome could be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Gonçalves
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas W Maddox
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Phillipps
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Aran Nagendran
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Camilla Cooper
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Rocio Orlandi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Rory Fentem
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma L Walmsley
- Department of Veterinary Science, Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Linder JE, Thomovsky S, Bowditch J, Lind M, Kazmierczak KA, Breur GJ, Lewis MJ. Development of a simple method to measure static body weight distribution in neurologically and orthopedically normal mature small breed dogs. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:110. [PMID: 33676494 PMCID: PMC7937222 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02808-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Objective outcome measures capable of tracking different aspects of functional recovery in dogs with acute intervertebral disc herniation are needed to optimize physical rehabilitation protocols. Normal, pre-injury distribution of body weight in this population is unknown. The aims of this study were to quantify static weight distribution (SWD) using digital scales and to establish the feasibility of different scale methods in neurologically normal, mature, chondrodystrophic small breed dogs predisposed to intervertebral disc herniation. Results Twenty-five healthy, mature dogs were enrolled with a mean age of 4.6 years (SD 2.7) and a mean total body weight of 11.5 kg (SD 3.6). SWD for the thoracic and pelvic limbs and between individual limbs was acquired in triplicate and expressed as a percentage of total body weight using commercially available digital scales in four combinations: two bathroom, two kitchen (with thoracic and pelvic limbs combined), four bathroom and four kitchen (with limbs measured individually). SWD was also obtained using a pressure sensing walkway for comparison to scale data. Feasibility for each method was determined and coefficients of variation were used to calculate inter-trial variability. Mean SWD values were compared between methods using an ANOVA. The two bathroom scales method had the highest feasibility and lowest inter-trial variability and resulted in mean thoracic and pelvic limb SWD of 63 % (SD 3 %) and 37 % (SD 3 %), respectively. Thoracic limb mean SWD was higher for the PSW compared to any of the scale methods (p < 0.0001). Conclusions SWD in a population of healthy chondrodystrophic dogs was simple to obtain using inexpensive and readily available digital scales. This study generated SWD data for subsequent comparison to dogs recovering from acute intervertebral disc herniation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Linder
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, IN, 47907, West Lafayette, USA.,College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, FL, 32608, Gainesville, USA
| | - Stephanie Thomovsky
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, IN, 47907, West Lafayette, USA
| | - Jessica Bowditch
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, IN, 47907, West Lafayette, USA
| | - Mallory Lind
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, IN, 47907, West Lafayette, USA
| | - Kristine A Kazmierczak
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, IN, 47907, West Lafayette, USA
| | - Gert J Breur
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, IN, 47907, West Lafayette, USA
| | - Melissa J Lewis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, IN, 47907, West Lafayette, USA.
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Hesse S, Kutschenko A, Bryl B, Deutschland M, Liebetanz D. Therapeutic effects of Tetanus neurotoxin in spinal cord injury: a case series on four dogs. Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2020; 6:9. [PMID: 32066656 PMCID: PMC7026047 DOI: 10.1038/s41394-020-0258-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Case series on four dogs. OBJECTIVES To determine the alleviation of motor symptoms in spinal cord injury (SCI) by tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT). SETTING Different Berlin veterinary clinics, Germany. METHODS We report on the effect of intramuscular injections of low-dose TeNT into paretic hind limb muscles 2-157 weeks after SCI due to lumbar disc herniation in a clinical case series on four dogs. All dogs underwent unsuccessful or incomplete surgical decompression prior to TeNT treatment. TeNT was injected on a compassionate basis. Stance, gait ability and the diameter of the rectus femoris muscle were assessed as parameters. RESULTS All four dogs improved their stance and three of these dogs improved in gait at 4 and 6 weeks after TeNT injections without evidence of side effects or spreading of TeNT effects. At the same time, the size of the rectus femoris muscle diameter increased considerably as compared with baseline (baseline: 100%; 4 weeks: 148.7% ± 10.9%; 6 weeks: 137.1% ± 7.9%). CONCLUSIONS Facilitation of α-motor neurons by TeNT injections into paretic hind limb muscles of four dogs improved standing and/or gait abilities and partly reversed muscle atrophy after SCI. The absence of generalized or painful muscle spasms supports the safety of low-dose TeNT. Therefore, TeNT might evolve as a promising therapeutic option for muscle paresis of central origin, e.g. in individuals with SCI, stroke or multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Hesse
- Neurological Department, Medical Park Berlin Humboldtmühle, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Kutschenko
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Beatrice Bryl
- Neurological Department, Medical Park Berlin Humboldtmühle, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - David Liebetanz
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany
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Boström AF, Hyytiäinen HK, Koho P, Cizinauskas S, Hielm-Björkman AK. Development of the Finnish neurological function testing battery for dogs and its intra- and inter-rater reliability. Acta Vet Scand 2018; 60:56. [PMID: 30223905 PMCID: PMC6142623 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-018-0408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Finnish neurological function testing battery for dogs (FINFUN) was developed to meet the increasing demand for objective outcome measures in veterinary physiotherapy. The testing battery should provide consistent, reproducible results and have established face and content validity. Internal consistency and intra- and inter-rater reliability of the FINFUN were also investigated. Results The FINFUN comprised 11 tasks: lying, standing up from lying, sitting, standing up from sitting, standing, proprioceptive positioning, starting to walk, walking, trotting, walking turns and walking stairs. A score from 0 to 4, (0: unable to perform task, 4: performing task with normal motor function) was given for each task, the maximum score being 44. Twenty-six dogs were filmed when performing the FINFUN. Seven observers scored the performances from the video recordings. The FINFUN was considered to have appropriate face and content validity based on a pilot study, clinical experience and critical reflection of the development process. Its internal consistency was excellent, with no Cronbach’s alpha values below 0.922. The intra-rater reliability for total score of experienced observers was almost perfect: 0.999 (observer 1) and 0.994 (observer 2). The inter-rater reliability for both experienced and novice observers’ total scores was also almost perfect (0.919–0.993). Analysis of each individual task showed substantial intra-rater and inter-rater agreement for the tasks “lying” and “sitting”. Conclusions The FINFUN is an objective, valid and reliable tool with standardized scoring criteria for evaluation of motor function in dogs recovering from spinal cord injury. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13028-018-0408-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Wyatt S, Gonçalves R, Gutierrez-Quintana R, De Decker S. Outcomes of nonsurgical treatment for congenital thoracic vertebral body malformations in dogs: 13 cases (2009–2016). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018; 253:768-773. [DOI: 10.2460/javma.253.6.768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Crawford AH, De Decker S. Clinical presentation and outcome of dogs treated medically or surgically for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. Vet Rec 2017; 180:569. [PMID: 28283670 DOI: 10.1136/vr.103871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
To date, few studies have investigated the clinical characteristics of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc protrusion (IVDP). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the presentation and outcome of dogs receiving medical or surgical treatment for thoracolumbar IVDP. Eighty-four dogs were included, with a median age of 9.4 years. German shepherd dogs and Staffordshire bull terriers were the most common breeds. Significantly more surgically treated dogs (n=53) had neurological deficits and were non-ambulatory, compared with medically treated (n=31). Outcome data were available for 27 of 31 medically managed dogs; 11 initially improved, 7 remained stable and 9 deteriorated. Of 18 dogs that initially improved or stabilised, 10 (55.6 per cent) demonstrated recurrence of clinical signs within 12 months of diagnosis. Outcome data were available for 45 of 50 surgically treated dogs that survived to hospital discharge; 34 improved, 9 remained stable and 2 deteriorated following surgery. Of 43 dogs that improved or stabilised with surgical treatment, 11 (25.6 per cent) demonstrated recurrence of clinical signs within 12 months of surgery. Overall, significantly more surgically treated dogs (71.1 per cent) had a successful outcome, consisting of sustained clinical improvement of more than 12 months duration, compared with medically treated dogs (29.6 per cent).
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Crawford
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - S De Decker
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
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Song RB, Basso DM, da Costa RC, Fisher LC, Mo X, Moore SA. Adaptation of the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale for use in a clinical model of spinal cord injury in dogs. J Neurosci Methods 2016; 268:117-24. [PMID: 27155106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2016.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Naturally occurring acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in pet dogs provides an important clinical animal model through which to confirm and extend findings from rodent studies; however, validated quantitative outcome measures for dogs are limited. NEW METHOD We adapted the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scale for use in a clinical dog model of acute thoracolumbar SCI. Based on observation of normal dogs, modifications were made to account for species differences in locomotion. Assessments of paw and tail position, and trunk stability were modified to produce a 19 point scale suitable for use in dogs, termed the canine BBB scale (cBBB). Pet dogs with naturally occurring acute SCI were assigned cBBB scores at 3, 10 and 30days after laminectomy. RESULTS Scores assigned via the cBBB were stable across testing sessions in normal dogs but increased significantly between days 3 and 30 in SCI-affected dogs (p=0.0003). The scale was highly responsive to changes in locomotor recovery over a 30day period, with a standardized response mean of 1.34. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Concurrent validity was good, with strong correlations observed between the cBBB and two other locomotor scales, the OSCIS (r=0.94; p<0.001) and the MFS (r=0.85; p<0.0001). cBBB scores inversely correlated with other assessments of recovery including mechanical sensory threshold (r=-0.68; p<0.0001) and coefficient of variation of stride length (r=-0.49; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS These results support the use of the cBBB to assess locomotor recovery in canine clinical translational models of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel B Song
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon Tharp St., Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - D Michele Basso
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State Unviersity, 453 West Tenth Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Ronaldo C da Costa
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon Tharp St., Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Lesley C Fisher
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State Unviersity, 453 West Tenth Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Xiaokui Mo
- Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, 320D Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Sarah A Moore
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon Tharp St., Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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