Vertebral disease in excavated canine in Lower Silesia, Poland

Lumbosacral Biometrics and its Relevance to Patient-Specific Evaluation of Bone Mechanical Strength in Some Canine Breeds

“…This observation suggests that some breeds have a mismatch in the mechanical properties of L7 and the sacrum and it remains to be seen if such a mismatch may be responsible for the higher incidence of lumbosacral defects. [1,6,9,[11][12][13]16,19 In addition to inter-breed differences, we also observed significant intra-breed variations in the AMR and HLR of L7 and the sacrum. Although this study wasn't adequately powered to assess the intra-breed variations, it is nevertheless interesting to evaluate if AMR and HLR of L7 and the sacrum would prove to be valuable in assessing bone mechanical properties of an individual patient.…”

“…Although bone is a multicellular unit, its primary function is to offer mechanical load-bearing and provide anchorage to skeletal muscles. 3,[6][7][8]13,17 It is imperative that bone is dynamically subjected to stress and strain mechanics. 9,10 Thus, each bone has an innate strain threshold, which when compromised will lead to fracture/s and bone deformity.…”

“…7,8 The AMR of L7 was highest in the Greyhound, suggesting that these breeds have the lowest L7 bone density, hence increasing their risk of developing lumbar problems. 6,7,16 As the bone density is low in this breed, wiring rather than plates/screws can be a better approach for surgical corrections of lumbar fractures. 11 A lower HLR of L7 in Greyhounds, suggesting that the available surface area for a given height of the bone is large in this species, further supports a lower mechanical ability of L7 in Greyhounds to hold plates/screws.…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10] Subsequent stress that is placed on the joint and the lumbosacral intervertebral disc uniquely predisposes animals to degenerative diseases, comparable to those that cause lower back pain in humans. 6,[10][11][12][13][14] Several large and giant breeds of dogs are prone to serious conditions affecting the lumbosacral region, with some breeds being more predisposed than others due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors; for example, hip dysplasia affecting German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers and Lumbosacral Stenosis affecting Boxers. In addition, the mobility of the lumbosacral joint and its function in force transmission makes L7 and the sacrum prone to fracture, frequently because of trauma to the area.…”

“…In addition, the mobility of the lumbosacral joint and its function in force transmission makes L7 and the sacrum prone to fracture, frequently because of trauma to the area. 4,6,7,14,15 There have been several studies on the occurrence of transitional vertebrae in dogs and their relationship to sacroiliac morphology, [16][17][18][19] but little research on lumbosacral morphology. The aim of the study was, to investigate the canine breed-specific biometrics of lumbosacral anatomy using a radiographic and dissection-based approach.…”