Craniocervical junction abnormalities in dogs

Abstract

Craniocervical junction abnormality (CJA) is a term that encompasses a number of developmental anatomical aberrations at the region of the caudal occiput and first two cervical vertebrae. Chiari-like malformation appears to be the most common CJA encountered in dogs, and there has been a tremendous amount of clinical investigation into this disorder in recent years. Other abnormalities in this region include atlanto-occipital overlap, dorsal constriction at C1/C2 and atlantoaxial instability. This review article presents an overview of the current understanding of CJA in dogs, as well as medical and surgical treatment options available.

Caudal Occipital Malformation Syndrome in a 6‐Year‐Old Female Huacaya Alpaca

“…The most common neurologic presentations are cervical myelopathy and cerebellovestibular dysfunction,2, 3, 4, 5 similar to the alpaca presented here. MRI is the preferred imaging modality for diagnosing COMS and syringohydromyelia.…”

“…Treatment for COMS can be both medical and surgical. Medical treatment for COMS includes analgesic drugs, corticosteroids, omeprazole, acetazolamide, and furosemide used to target inflammation and to decrease CSF production 2. Surgical treatments commonly focus on foramen magnum decompression (FMD) 2.…”

“…Medical treatment for COMS includes analgesic drugs, corticosteroids, omeprazole, acetazolamide, and furosemide used to target inflammation and to decrease CSF production 2. Surgical treatments commonly focus on foramen magnum decompression (FMD) 2. Surgical success is generally favorable for improvement in clinical signs, although relapse rates ranging from 8 to 30% have been reported in people 2.…”

“…Surgical treatments commonly focus on foramen magnum decompression (FMD) 2. Surgical success is generally favorable for improvement in clinical signs, although relapse rates ranging from 8 to 30% have been reported in people 2. Most of the relapses are suspected to be caused by excessive postoperative scar tissue formation at the FMD site 5, 6…”

Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and a novel surgical approach of atlanto-axial instability with incongruence in dogs

“…Atlanto-axial (AA) instability with subluxation due to ligament insufficiency is a welldescribed congenital disease that predominantly afflicts toy breed dogs [2,11,26]. In contrast, traumatic AA subluxation may occur in any breed at any age.…”