Tartrate-resistant acid phosphate as biomarker of bone turnover over the lifespan and different physiologic stages in sheep.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the best resources for assessment of bone tissue using imaging techniques are expensive and available in few medical facilities, thus serum or urinary bone turnover biomarkers could be useful as early indicators of prognosis. However, there is a wide range of variability in bone turnover markers due to several factors, such as different ages and metabolic stages, thus it is important to have as much data published on the subject as possible. The aim of this study was therefore to generate a reference range for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and validate the already published data. RESULTS: Serum alkaline phosphatase decreased with age, with statistical difference between the 1 month old and the other groups and between the over 8 years and the 6 months old groups. There was also a statistical difference in the ALP levels between the 3 to 5 years old gestation and lactation groups. For serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, there was a statistical difference mainly between the 1 month old and the 6 months old, 6-8 years old, and above 8 years old groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained could represent a useful tool for future studies using sheep as an animal model for orthopedic research. The different groups presented a wide variation of serum ALP and TRAP levels, however, these variations are entirely explained by known physiology. Therefore, this detailed study confirms the prediction that unexplained changes in these bone turnover markers do not occur during the lifespan of sheep.

Neurologic and magnetic resonance imaging features of German Shepherd Dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy: 10 cases (2006-2018).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the neurologic signs and MRI findings for German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) with cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM). ANIMALS: 10 GSDs with confirmed CSM. PROCEDURES: Medical records from January 2006 through July 2018 were reviewed to identify dogs with CSM. For each CSM-affected dog, information regarding age, duration of clinical signs, presence of neurologic signs, and treatments administered were obtained; the main site and cause of spinal cord compression and other vertebral and spinal cord changes were identified on MRI images. RESULTS: Data for 9 male and 1 female (mean age, 6.2 years) GSDs with CSM were assessed. Dogs were classified as having chronic (n = 9) or acute (1) CSM. Nine dogs had ataxia; 1 dog had only signs of cervical hyperesthesia. Neurologic examination findings localized the lesion to the cervical portion of the vertebral column in each dog. The main spinal cord compression site was at the C6-7 (n = 5), C5-6 (4), or C4-5 (1) intervertebral spaces; osseous proliferation of the articular processes was the sole or a contributory cause of these compressions for 6 of the 10 dogs. Eight dogs also had dorsal compression of the spinal cord as the result of ligamenta flava hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The 10 GSDs of the present retrospective case series had CSM that was often characterized by osseous changes and a ligamentous component and were older than dogs of other breeds (eg, Great Dane and Mastiff) with osseous-associated CSM described in previous reports. Cervical spondylomyelopathy should be a differential diagnosis for GSDs with ataxia, paresis, or signs of cervical hyperesthesia.

Estudo clínico e epidemiológico em cães com fraturas e luxações vertebrais toracolombares / Clinical and epidemiological study in dogs with thoracolumbar vertebrae fractures and luxations

Fraturas e luxações vertebrais (FLV) estão dentre as principais afecções que acometem a coluna vertebral em cães, com elevado risco de danos permanentes às estruturas neurais. Objetivou-se estudar as características e implicações associadas às FLV toracolombares em 37 cães, visando auxiliar uma melhor abordagem clínica em pacientes com esta afecção. As FLV foram mais comuns em machos não castrados com acesso a rua. Dentre a etiologia, 32 cães foram acometidos por acidente automobilístico. 14 cães apresentaram lesões não neurológicas em outros sistemas orgânicos. A presença de fraturas instáveis foi a alteração radiográfica mais comum. Em 16,2% dos animais, observaram-se lesões vertebrais fora do foco principal. O tempo até o atendimento neurológico inicial variou de um a 720 dias, no qual a maioria foi encaminhada sem imobilização externa. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante quanto à recuperação neurológica ao se comparar os graus de deslocamento de 0 a 25% e de 76 a 100%.(AU)

Vertebral fractures and luxations (VFL) are one of the most common and severe neurological issues found in clinical practice, with an elevated risk of permanent damage to the spinal cord. Our objective was to study the characteristics and implications associated with thoracolumbar VFL in 37 dogs, aiming assist a better clinical approach to patients with this disease. The VFL were more common in intact males with access to the street. Regarding etiology, 32 dogs were involved in car accidents. Of the dogs included in this research, 14 had non-neurological issues in other systems. The presence of unstable fractures was the most common radiographic change. In 16.2% of the dogs, vertebral lesions were observed outside the main site. Mean time until initial neurologic exam varied between one and 720 days, and most dogs were referred without external coaptation. There was a significant difference in recovery of the dogs when comparing a degree of dislocation of 0 to 25% and 76 to 100%.(AU)

Estudo clínico e epidemiológico em cães com fraturas e luxações vertebrais toracolombares

ABSTRACT: Vertebral fractures and luxations (VFL) are one of the most common and severe neurological issues found in clinical practice, with an elevated risk of permanent damage to the spinal cord. Our objective was to study the characteristics and implications associated with thoracolumbar VFL in 37 dogs, aiming assist a better clinical approach to patients with this disease. The VFL were more common in intact males with access to the street. Regarding etiology, 32 dogs were involved in car accidents. Of the dogs included in this research, 14 had non-neurological issues in other systems. The presence of unstable fractures was the most common radiographic change. In 16.2% of the dogs, vertebral lesions were observed outside the main site. Mean time until initial neurologic exam varied between one and 720 days, and most dogs were referred without external coaptation. There was a significant difference in recovery of the dogs when comparing a degree of dislocation of 0 to 25% and 76 to 100%.

RESUMO: Fraturas e luxações vertebrais (FLV) estão dentre as principais afecções que acometem a coluna vertebral em cães, com elevado risco de danos permanentes às estruturas neurais. Objetivou-se estudar as características e implicações associadas às FLV toracolombares em 37 cães, visando auxiliar uma melhor abordagem clínica em pacientes com esta afecção. As FLV foram mais comuns em machos não castrados com acesso a rua. Dentre a etiologia, 32 cães foram acometidos por acidente automobilístico. 14 cães apresentaram lesões não neurológicas em outros sistemas orgânicos. A presença de fraturas instáveis foi a alteração radiográfica mais comum. Em 16,2% dos animais, observaram-se lesões vertebrais fora do foco principal. O tempo até o atendimento neurológico inicial variou de um a 720 dias, no qual a maioria foi encaminhada sem imobilização externa. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante quanto à recuperação neurológica ao se comparar os graus de deslocamento de 0 a 25% e de 76 a 100%.

Estudo clínico e epidemiológico em cães com fraturas e luxações vertebrais toracolombares / Clinical and epidemiological study in dogs with thoracolumbar vertebrae fractures and luxations

Fraturas e luxações vertebrais (FLV) estão dentre as principais afecções que acometem a coluna vertebral em cães, com elevado risco de danos permanentes às estruturas neurais. Objetivou-se estudar as características e implicações associadas às FLV toracolombares em 37 cães, visando auxiliar uma melhor abordagem clínica em pacientes com esta afecção. As FLV foram mais comuns em machos não castrados com acesso a rua. Dentre a etiologia, 32 cães foram acometidos por acidente automobilístico. 14 cães apresentaram lesões não neurológicas em outros sistemas orgânicos. A presença de fraturas instáveis foi a alteração radiográfica mais comum. Em 16,2% dos animais, observaram-se lesões vertebrais fora do foco principal. O tempo até o atendimento neurológico inicial variou de um a 720 dias, no qual a maioria foi encaminhada sem imobilização externa. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante quanto à recuperação neurológica ao se comparar os graus de deslocamento de 0 a 25% e de 76 a 100%.(AU)

Vertebral fractures and luxations (VFL) are one of the most common and severe neurological issues found in clinical practice, with an elevated risk of permanent damage to the spinal cord. Our objective was to study the characteristics and implications associated with thoracolumbar VFL in 37 dogs, aiming assist a better clinical approach to patients with this disease. The VFL were more common in intact males with access to the street. Regarding etiology, 32 dogs were involved in car accidents. Of the dogs included in this research, 14 had non-neurological issues in other systems. The presence of unstable fractures was the most common radiographic change. In 16.2% of the dogs, vertebral lesions were observed outside the main site. Mean time until initial neurologic exam varied between one and 720 days, and most dogs were referred without external coaptation. There was a significant difference in recovery of the dogs when comparing a degree of dislocation of 0 to 25% and 76 to 100%.(AU)