Abstract
Objective
To examine the effect of sternal or lateral recumbency, with or without cranial extension
of the hindlimbs, on the distance between the dorsal lumbosacral laminae in dogs.
Study design
Blinded, randomized, crossover, experimental study.
Animals
A total of 19 canine cadavers.
Methods
Computed tomography of the lumbosacral junction was performed in four positions: sternal
and right lateral recumbency, with hindlimbs extended cranially or not. Order of positioning
was randomized. The lumbosacral interlaminar (LSI) distance, defined as the distance
between the dorsal laminae of the seventh lumbar vertebra (caudal margin) and sacrum
(cranial margin), was measured for each position by two independent assessors who
were unaware of positioning. Mean distances in each position were compared using a
paired t-test, corrected for multiple comparisons.
Results
For n = 19 cadavers [6 female; median (range) age 9 (0.3–16) years; weight, 20.4 (1.0–34.0)
kg], cranial extension of the hindlimbs increased the LSI distance, compared with
control, in both sternal (9.2 ± 2.2 mm versus 3.1 ± 1.3 mm, p < 0.001) and right lateral recumbency (8.2 ± 1.9 mm versus 4.9 ± 1.5 mm, p < 0.001). With the hindlimbs extended cranially, sternal recumbency increased LSI
distance when compared with right lateral recumbency (p < 0.001).
Conclusions and clinical relevance
Cranial extension of the hindlimbs in both sternal and lateral recumbency increases
the LSI distance to an extent that is both statistically significant and of potential
clinical relevance. Although ease of epidural access or injection was not assessed,
the small (1 mm) difference in LSI distance between cranial hindlimb extension in
sternal and right lateral recumbency is unlikely to be of clinical relevance. Conversely,
cranial extension of the hindlimbs in either sternal or lateral recumbency would be
expected to facilitate epidural injection.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 19, 2018
Accepted:
May 15,
2018
Received:
January 15,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
