Erkut Turan

Computed tomographic assessment of the trachea in the German shepherd dog.

Computed tomographic (CT) examination of the trachea was performed in 10 German shepherd dogs to determine the normal value of some tracheal measurements under general anesthesia and in sternal recumbence position. Measurements obtained from nine segments were evaluated in four groups as the cranial cervical, caudal cervical, thoracic inlet and the thoracal tracheas. The inner transverse (T) and vertical (V) diameters were measured with the aid of electronic calipers from the software of the CT scanner. The cross-sectional lumen area (CSA) was calculated by using vertical and transverse diameters. The ratio of the transverse and vertical diameters (T/V) was also calculated. There was not any significant difference between thoracic inlet and thoracic tracheas, however, the mentioned regions were found to be significantly different from both cranial and caudal cervical regions in all measurements except the ratio of T/V. The ratio of T/V between 0.92 and 1.06 gradually changed and there was not any statistical difference between subsequent regions while differences were found among further regions. The largest CSA, seen in cranial cervical trachea was as 364.62 mm2 and decreased gradually to 309.29, 245.69 and 226.50 mm2 in caudal cervical, thoracic inlet and thoracic tracheas, respectively. From the point of view of technique, CT examination of the dog trachea was very easy and it was possible to take sensitive and repeated measurements. It, however, may be accepted as expensive and that it is disadvantageous to require general anesthesia. The data presented in this study represent tracheal values in the healthy German shepherd dog under the conditions of the study.

Morphometry of the Thoracic Spine in German Shepherd Dog: A Computed Tomographic Study

Computed tomographic images of the thoracic spine of 13 German shepherd dogs were examined in order to determine the thoracic spine morphometry. Examinations were carried out in the transverse plane both intervertebral and mid‐vertebral levels of the each thoracic vertebrae. The dorsoventral and interpedicular diameters of the spinal canal, the dorsoventral and transverse diameters of the vertebral body, the dorsoventral and transverse diameters of the spinal cord and also the cross‐section area of the spinal canal were measured. The maximum values were found to be at the level of C7‐T1. The shapes of the spinal canal and cord were circular in middle part, the shape became transverse oval in the cranial and caudal parts of the thoracic spine. The most significant correlation between the diameters was found to be in male dogs, except between dorsoventral diameters of the spinal canal and that of the vertebral body and between dorsoventral diameters of the spinal canal and transverse diameters of the vertebral body.

Computed tomography and morphometry of the carpal canal in the dog

This study has been carried out to determine the normal size and shape of the carpal canal in the dog and to describe the salient anatomic structures with the aid of computed tomography. Computed tomographic examination of the carpal region was performed in the left and right forelimbs of 5 male and 5 female healthy German shepherd dogs, respectively. Areas, depths and widths of the carpal canal and identification of the anatomical structures were determined at two levels of the carpal region. The frozen forelimbs of two cadavers were sectioned with a saw to correlate the CT images with these sections. All scans were studied using both bony and soft tissue windows. The measurements of the right and left carpal canals did not differ significantly in male or female dogs, respectively although they were larger in the male than female dogs. In addition to this, the measurements of the carpal canal were larger in the distal than the proximal slice. The lateral tip of the deep digital flexor tendon was located more cranially in the distal part than in the proximal part of the carpal canal. Thus, the distance between the bones and the deep digital flexor tendon decreased and the distance between the deep and superficial digital flexor tendons increased. This localization is important in regard to neuropathy because the median nerve was located between the deep and superficial flexor tendons and this region was wider at the distal than the proximal part of the carpal canal. As a result of this study, it was found that the carpal canal of the dog much resembled that of humans and this similarity can easily generate a predisposition to focal neuropathy namely, carpal tunnel syndrome in dogs.

Computed tomographic measurements of the hip morphology of 10 healthy German shepherd dogs

Linear measurements were made by computed tomography of the diameter of the femoral head, the width and depth of the acetabulum and the dorsal and ventral acetabular rim distances in 10 healthy German shepherd dogs, and angular measurements were made of the axial acetabular index, acetabular anteversion, and the dorsal and ventral centre-edge angles. There were no significant differences between the measurements made on the left and right sides. The width of the acetabulum was about twice its depth, and was a little larger than the diameter of the femoral head. The mean values of the axial acetabular index, acetabular anteversion, and ventral and dorsal centre-edge angles were 100.9°, 25.1°, 48.0° and 12.2°, respectively.

Ultrasonographic examination of the carpal canal in dogs

The aim of this study was to determine the course of the median nerve and its adjacent structures in the carpal canals of 8 healthy dogs by using high-frequency transducers. Before performing ultrasonography, the transverse and posteroanterior diameters as well as the perimeter of the carpus were measured at just proximal to the side of the carpal pad. The anatomical structures were then determined at two levels of the carpal canal, which were named the proximal and distal levels, on the transverse sonograms. The cross-sectional areas, perimeters and the transverse and posteroanterior diameters of the median nerve were measured at these levels. Although all the measurements were larger at the proximal level, significant differences between the proximal and distal levels were determined for the cross-sectional area, the perimeter and the transverse diameter of the median nerve. On the transverse sonogram, the deep digital flexor tendon was seen in almost the center of the carpal canal like a comma shape and also it had a small concavity on the caudal side. The superficial digital flexor tendon was seen as an ovoid shape on the transverse sonograms and it was located nearly at the posterior side of the carpal canal. Both tendons were seen as intermediate-grade echogenic structures. The median artery was located inside of the concavity of the deep digital flexor tendon. Also, the median nerve was seen at the posteromedial side of the median artery. As a result of this study, the cross-sectional areas of the median nerve ranged between 1.01-2.68 mm2 at the proximal level and between 0.93-1.91 mm2 at the distal level.

Evaluation of possible carpal tunnel syndrome in dogs

COMPRESSION is one of the most important causes of entrapment neuropathies, which are common in human neurology (Delfiner 1996). Entrapment neuropathies are compression injuries to a specific region of a nerve, which is predisposed to the injury because of a narrow anatomical pathway, a fibrous tunnel or a superficial course that provides little protection (Freimer and others 2001). The most common and well-known example in human beings is compression of the median nerve in the wrist, known as carpal tunnel syndrome (Bleecker and others 1985, Buchberger 1997, Rempel and others 1999, Chroni and others 2001). Predisposing factors include fluid retention (Turgut and others 2001), calcium deposition, long-term renal dialysis, nonspecific tenosynovial proliferation, tumours (Szabo 1989, Kulick 1996), varicose veins (Zikel and other 1997), congenital anomalies and local oedema related to fractures in the distal radial and carpal regions (Szabo 1989, Kulick 1996, Greenberg 2001). Some jobs result in repetitive movements of the hand and wrist, which can lead to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome (Greenberg 2001). In this situation, the condition is diagnosed using electromyography and nerve conduction studies (Kimura 1993). In the veterinary field, carpal tunnel syndrome has been reported only in horses and was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and neurological examination (Mackay-Smith and others 1972, Squire and others 1992). Although many peripheral neuropathies have been reported in dogs (Braund and others 1987, 1994, Jacobson and Schrader 1987, Misselbrook 1987, Hamilton and others 1991, Munana 1995, Tucker and others 2000), as have entrapment neuropathies (Walker 1981, Sorjonen and others 1990, Koppel and Rein 1992), carpal tunnel syndrome has not been previously reported. A recent study suggested that the anatomical and morphometric structures of the carpal canal in dogs are similar to those in human beings (Turan and Erden 2003). Positional changing of the carpus directly changes the volume of the carpal canal, and these changes affect the nerve conduction velocity, as seen in carpal tunnel syndrome in human beings. This short communication describes a study to record the latency of the sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) of the median nerve in healthy dogs at three different positions of the carpus, with consequent effects on the carpal canal volume. The SNAP latency of the median nerve was evaluated in the right forelimbs of 10 healthy crossbred dogs, with a mean (se) weight of 22-7 (1-84) kg (range 19 to 27 kg). There were eight males and two females, ranging in age from 18 months to three-and-a-half years, with a mean (se) age of 29-25 (1-32) months. General anaesthesia was induced with an intramuscular combination of 1-1 mg/kg xylazine (Rompun; Bayer) and 22 mg/kg ketamine (Ketanes; Alke). All examinations

The mixture of liquid foam soap, ethanol and citric acid as a new fixative–preservative solution in veterinary anatomy

The present study investigates the efficiency of liquid foam soap, ethanol, citric acid and benzalkonium chloride as a fixative-preservative solution (a soap-and ethanol-based fixing solution, or SEFS). In this study, ethanol serves as the fixative and preservative, liquid foam soap as the modifying agent, citric acid as the antioxidant and benzalkonium chloride as the disinfectant. The goat cadavers perfused with SEFS (n=8) were evaluated over a period of one year with respect to hardness, colour and odour using objective methods. Colour and hardness were compared between one fresh cadaver and the SEFS-embalmed cadavers. Histological and microbiological examinations were also performed in tissue samples. Additionally, the cadavers were subjectively evaluated after dissection and palpation. The SEFS provided the effectiveness expected over a 1-year embalming period for the animal cadavers. No bacteria or fungi were isolated except for some non-pathogenic Bacillus species. Visible mould was not present on either cadavers or in the surrounding environment. The cadavers maintained an appearance close to their original anatomical appearance, with muscles having good hardness and elasticity for dissection.

Evaluation of proximal and distal motor nerve conduction using the electrical root stimulation technique in the femoral and obturator nerves

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the adaptability of the electrical root stimulation technique by achieving normative data from the obturator and femoral nerves of healthy dogs. METHODS For this purpose, two stimulations and recordings were performed on both the obturator and femoral nerves in 40 dogs (22 males and 18 females). Electrical root stimulation was applied via monopolar needle electrodes between the sixth to seventh and fifth to sixth lumbar interarcuate spaces to the obturator and femoral nerves, respectively. Muscle waves were recorded from the gracilis and sartorius muscles of the left and right pelvic limb. RESULTS The proximal motor nerve conduction velocity was 60.89 ± 3.93 m/s and 59.87 ± 4.83 m/s in the obturator and femoral nerves, respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Our results showed that electrical root stimulation could be a useful method to test the integrity of the roots of obturator and femoral nerves and their proximal parts.