Case Study

CT – Chronic disc protrusion in the deep cervical spine in a 12-year-old F Labradoodle

Presented for left foreleg lameness and cerivcal pain of one month duration.

DX

Degenerative disc disease and chronic disc protrusion at C6/7 " Lumbosacral degenerative disc disease and spondylosis deformans " Mild spondylosis deformans and kissing spines within the thoracic spine

Image Interpretation

CT of the spine. Moderate collapse of the intervertebral disc space C6/7 is noted as well as moderate spondylosis deformans and a moderate protrusion of disc material into the ventral epidural space. The exact extent of the protrusion cannot be delineated against the spinal cord.
A vacuum phenomenon of the lumbosacral intervertebral disc is noted as well as early lumbosacral spondylosis deformans.
Mild spondylosis deformans is noted within the mid thoracic spine.

Outcome

The CT findings suggest chronic disc protrusion within the deep cervical spine. Exact delineation of the degree of spinal cord compression within the deep cervical spine would require a myelographic study or an MRI.
Clinical correlation is warranted to decide about the relevance of the orthopedic disease of the forelimbs.