Background
Great Danes (
GDs) with osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (
CSM) have osteoarthritis (
OA) of the cervical vertebrae.
OA is often associated with increases in bone mineral density (
BMD) in people and dogs.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To compare the trabecular
BMD of the cervical vertebrae between clinically normal (control)
GDs and
GDs with osseous‐associated
CSM by using computed tomography (
CT). We hypothesized that the vertebral trabecular
BMD of
CSM‐affected
GDs would be higher than that of control
GDs.
Animals
Client‐owned
GDs: 12 controls, 10
CSM affected.
Methods
Prospective study.
CT of the cervical vertebral column was obtained alongside a calibration phantom. By placing a circular region of interest at the articular process joints, vertebral body, pedicles, and within each rod of the calibration phantom, trabecular
BMD was measured in Hounsfield units, which were converted to diphosphate equivalent densities. Trabecular
BMD measurements were compared between
CSM‐affected and control dogs, and between males and females within the control group.
Results
Differences between
CSM‐affected and control dogs were not significant for the articular processes (mean = −39;
P = .37; 95% CI: −102 to 24), vertebral bodies (mean = −62;
P = .08; 95% CI: −129 to 6), or pedicles (mean = −36;
P = .51; 95% CI: −105 to 33). Differences between female and male were not significant.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
This study revealed no difference in
BMD between control and
CSM‐affected
GDs. Based on our findings no association was detected between cervical
OA and
BMD in
GDs with
CSM.
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