Kinetic and kinematic follow‐up gait analysis in Doberman Pinschers with cervical spondylomyelopathy treated medically and surgically

Abstract

BackgroundThe efficacy of treatment of dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM) is commonly based on the owner's and clinician's perception of the gait, which is highly subjective and suffers from observer bias.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo compare selected kinetic and kinematic parameters before and after treatments and to correlate the findings of gait analysis to clinical outcome.AnimalsEight Doberman Pinschers with CSM confirmed by magnetic resonsance imaging.MethodsPatients were prospectively studied and treated with either medical management (n = 5) or surgery (n = 3). Force plate analysis and 3‐D kinematic motion capture were performed at initial presentation and approximately 8 weeks later. Force plate parameters evaluated included peak vertical force (PVF). Kinematic parameters measured included number of pelvic limb strides, stifle flexion and extension, maximum and minimum thoracic limb distance, truncal sway, and thoracic limb stride duration.ResultsKinematic analysis showed that deviation of the spine to the right (truncal sway) was significantly smaller (P < .001) and the degree of right stifle flexion was significantly larger (P = .029) after treatment. Force plate analysis indicated that PVF was significantly different after treatment (P = .049) and the difference of the PVF also was significantly larger (P = .027). However, no correlation was found with either method of gait analysis and clinical recovery.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceKinetic and kinematic gait analysis were able to detect differences in dogs with CSM before and after treatment. A correlation of gait analysis to clinical improvement could not be determined.

Surgical management and long‐term outcome of dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy with an anchored intervertebral titanium device

“…Currently, there are no clear evidence‐based guidelines for choosing which procedure is superior for an individual CSM patient, and the degree of stability or mobility that is ideal with distraction‐stabilisation techniques. Interpretation of the literature is difficult due to variable outcome measures among studies, and appropriate comparisons among studies do not exist …”

Long‐term clinical and magnetic resonance imaging follow‐up of dogs with osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy

“…Neurologic status at the time of initial MRI and study enrollment was graded from 0 to 5, consistent with a previously published grading scale widely used in CSM studies: 11,27‐29 grade 0, normal neurologic examination; grade 1, cervical hyperesthesia; grade 2, mild pelvic limb ataxia or paresis with or without thoracic limb involvement; grade 3, moderate pelvic limb ataxia or paresis with thoracic limb involvement; grade 4, marked pelvic limb ataxia or paresis with thoracic limb involvement; and grade 5, nonambulatory tetraparesis. Grading was performed using a combination of video recording and retrospective assignment based on neurologic examination forms.…”

Force Plate Gait Analysis and Clinical Results after Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Small Breed Dogs

“…8 On the other hand, force plate gait analysis can objectively evaluate limb function and has been used to evaluate postoperative recovery from various orthopaedic and neurological diseases. 9,10 The clinical results of various surgical procedures for cranial cruciate ligament rupture have been reported using force plate gait analysis and pressure walkway measurement system. Some studies reported that tibial plateau levelling osteotomy was superior to extracapsular stabilization, 11,12 although other studies reported no difference when using force plate gait analysis.…”