A dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2007. / To determine the prevalence and demographics of lumbo-sacral cases recorded at the D.U.T Chiropractic Day Clinic from 13th January 1995 to 30th November 2005. To identify the aetiology, common lumbo-sacral diagnoses, associated signs and symptoms, management and contra-indications to chiropractic treatment recorded on the initial consultation of patients with lumbo-sacral complaints. / M

O nome síndrome da cauda eqüina define as manifestações clínicas oriundas da disfunção sensorial e/ou motora causada pela lesão das raízes nervosas que formam a porção terminal da medula espinhal. É uma condição neurológica resultante da compressão, destruição ou deslocamento dos trajetos nervosos que constituem a cauda eqüina. Acomete freqüentemente os cães de raças de grande porte, como Labrador, Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain dog, Rottweiler e Pastor Alemão, não possuindo predileção quanto ao sexo e idade. As causas são inúmeras, podendo estar relacionada a fatores adquiridos, mais comuns nas raças de grande porte; ou congênitos, os quais são mais freqüentes nas raças de pequeno porte. Em ambos os casos, a estenose lombo-sacra é a causa mais comum, correlacionando-se às alterações das partes moles e/ou tecidos ósseos no segmento lombo-sacro. Este estudo teve por objetivo realizar uma análise crítica da contribuição dos métodos de imagem, quais sejam exames: radiográfico simples e tomográfico, para avaliação do segmento lombo-sacro em 30 cães da raça Pastor Alemão. Sendo treze animais pertencentes ao grupo (A) sem manifestações clínicas e alterações radiográficas no segmento lombo-sacra; doze animais pertencentes ao grupo (B) sem manifestações clínicas com alterações radiográficas no segmento lombo-sacro e cinco animais pertencentes ao grupo (C) com manifestações clínicas e portadores de alterações radiográficas no segmento lombo-sacro. Todos os exames foram submetidos a um protocolo de avaliação tendo como principais mensurações radiográficas: ângulo lombo-sacro, ângulo formado entre as epífises de L7-S1, ângulo dos processos articulares de L7-S1, listese ventral de S1 em relação à L7, grau de intersecção do vértice dos ângulos mensurados e grau de movimento na região lombo-sacra. O deslocamento ventral de S1 em relação à L7 esteve presente na maioria dos animais nos três diferentes grupos não só na dorso-extensão, levantando a hipótese de no padrão racial estudado, certo grau de listese possa fazer parte do esperado para o segmento lombo-sacro. Foi constatado diferença estatística entre os animais, nos seguintes grupos e variáveis: ângulo formado entre as epífises de L7-S1 (grupo A e B), grau de intersecção do ângulo entre as epífises de L7-S1 (grupo A e B), ângulo lombo-sacro (grupo A e B) e grau de movimento no segmento lombo-sacro (grupo A e B, A e C). Desta maneira, o grau de movimento demonstrou-se como elemento relevante no critério de avaliação do segmento lombo-sacro. O exame tomográfico mostrou-se superior na avaliação do canal vertebral, foramens intervertebrais e processos articulares, os quais puderam ser avaliados com maior riqueza de detalhes. Concluiu-se com esta pesquisa que as duas modalidades de imagem se complementam, constituindo ferramentas importantes na avaliação clínico-cirúrgica do segmento lombo-sacro, auxiliando no diagnóstico, estabelecimento do prognóstico e da terapêutica a ser adotada. / The name cauda equina syndrome defines the clinical signs that come from the sensory and or motor neural dysfunction caused by the terminal part of the spinal cord and adjacent nerve roots damages. Its one neurological condition resulting from the compression, destruction and displacement of the nervous routes which form the cauda equina. This syndrome normally happens to large breed dogs like the Labrador retriever, Golden Retriever, Bernese mountain dog, Rottweiler and the German shepherd dogs, without preference of gender or age. There are countless causes, which can be related to acquired factors, more common in the large breed dogs; or congenital, which are more frequent in the small breed dogs. In both cases, the stenosis lumbosacral is the most frequent, correlating to the alterations of the soft tissues and/ or the bone tissues in the lumbosacral segment. The aim of this sudy was to analise critically the real contribution of diagnostic imaging (X-Ray and CT), of the lumbosacral region of 30 German shepherd dogs. There were thirteen animals that belonged to the group (A) without clinical signs and X-Ray alterations in the lumbosacral segment; twelve animals belonged to the group (B) without clinical signs, with X-Ray alterations in the lumbosacral segment; five animals belonged to the group (C) with clinical signs and they had X-Ray alterations in the lumbosacral segment. All exams were submitted to one evaluation report which had as main radiographic measurements: lumbosacral angle, endplate angle L7 S1, articular process angle L7 S1 , ventral displacement of S1 to L7, the point of intersection of the measured angles and the mobility of the lumbosacral junction. The ventral displacement of S1 related to L7 was present in most of the animals in the three different groups not only in the extension position, raising the hypothesis about the racial standard established, a certain degree of ventral displacement of the sacrum might be part of the expected for the lumbosacral segment. It was noticed a statistical difference among the animals in the following groups and variables: endplate angle L7 S1 (groups A and B), the point of intersection of the endplate angle L7 S1 (groups A and B), lumbosacral angle (groups A and B) and the mobility of the lumbosacral junction (groups A and B, A and C). This way, the mobility showed itself as an relevant element in the criterion of evaluation of the lumbosacral segment. The CT examination showed being superior in the evaluation of the vertebral canal, intervertebral foramen and the articular processes, which could be evaluated with a greater number of details. It was concluded with this research that the two modalities of images complement each other, becoming important tools in the clinical- surgical evaluation in the lumbosacral segment, helping in the diagnosis, prognostic and therapeutic to be adopted.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2005. / Vita. Bibliography: 115-118.

O nome síndrome da cauda eqüina define as manifestações clínicas oriundas da disfunção sensorial e/ou motora causada pela lesão das raízes nervosas que formam a porção terminal da medula espinhal. É uma condição neurológica resultante da compressão, destruição ou deslocamento dos trajetos nervosos que constituem a cauda eqüina. Acomete freqüentemente os cães de raças de grande porte, como Labrador, Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain dog, Rottweiler e Pastor Alemão, não possuindo predileção quanto ao sexo e idade. As causas são inúmeras, podendo estar relacionada a fatores adquiridos, mais comuns nas raças de grande porte; ou congênitos, os quais são mais freqüentes nas raças de pequeno porte. Em ambos os casos, a estenose lombo-sacra é a causa mais comum, correlacionando-se às alterações das partes moles e/ou tecidos ósseos no segmento lombo-sacro. Este estudo teve por objetivo realizar uma análise crítica da contribuição dos métodos de imagem, quais sejam exames: radiográfico simples e tomográfico, para avaliação do segmento lombo-sacro em 30 cães da raça Pastor Alemão. Sendo treze animais pertencentes ao grupo (A) sem manifestações clínicas e alterações radiográficas no segmento lombo-sacra; doze animais pertencentes ao grupo (B) sem manifestações clínicas com alterações radiográficas no segmento lombo-sacro e cinco animais pertencentes ao grupo (C) com manifestações clínicas e portadores de alterações radiográficas no segmento lombo-sacro. Todos os exames foram submetidos a um protocolo de avaliação tendo como principais mensurações radiográficas: ângulo lombo-sacro, ângulo formado entre as epífises de L7-S1, ângulo dos processos articulares de L7-S1, listese ventral de S1 em relação à L7, grau de intersecção do vértice dos ângulos mensurados e grau de movimento na região lombo-sacra. O deslocamento ventral de S1 em relação à L7 esteve presente na maioria dos animais nos três diferentes grupos não só na dorso-extensão, levantando a hipótese de no padrão racial estudado, certo grau de listese possa fazer parte do esperado para o segmento lombo-sacro. Foi constatado diferença estatística entre os animais, nos seguintes grupos e variáveis: ângulo formado entre as epífises de L7-S1 (grupo A e B), grau de intersecção do ângulo entre as epífises de L7-S1 (grupo A e B), ângulo lombo-sacro (grupo A e B) e grau de movimento no segmento lombo-sacro (grupo A e B, A e C). Desta maneira, o grau de movimento demonstrou-se como elemento relevante no critério de avaliação do segmento lombo-sacro. O exame tomográfico mostrou-se superior na avaliação do canal vertebral, foramens intervertebrais e processos articulares, os quais puderam ser avaliados com maior riqueza de detalhes. Concluiu-se com esta pesquisa que as duas modalidades de imagem se complementam, constituindo ferramentas importantes na avaliação clínico-cirúrgica do segmento lombo-sacro, auxiliando no diagnóstico, estabelecimento do prognóstico e da terapêutica a ser adotada. / The name cauda equina syndrome defines the clinical signs that come from the sensory and or motor neural dysfunction caused by the terminal part of the spinal cord and adjacent nerve roots damages. Its one neurological condition resulting from the compression, destruction and displacement of the nervous routes which form the cauda equina. This syndrome normally happens to large breed dogs like the Labrador retriever, Golden Retriever, Bernese mountain dog, Rottweiler and the German shepherd dogs, without preference of gender or age. There are countless causes, which can be related to acquired factors, more common in the large breed dogs; or congenital, which are more frequent in the small breed dogs. In both cases, the stenosis lumbosacral is the most frequent, correlating to the alterations of the soft tissues and/ or the bone tissues in the lumbosacral segment. The aim of this sudy was to analise critically the real contribution of diagnostic imaging (X-Ray and CT), of the lumbosacral region of 30 German shepherd dogs. There were thirteen animals that belonged to the group (A) without clinical signs and X-Ray alterations in the lumbosacral segment; twelve animals belonged to the group (B) without clinical signs, with X-Ray alterations in the lumbosacral segment; five animals belonged to the group (C) with clinical signs and they had X-Ray alterations in the lumbosacral segment. All exams were submitted to one evaluation report which had as main radiographic measurements: lumbosacral angle, endplate angle L7 S1, articular process angle L7 S1 , ventral displacement of S1 to L7, the point of intersection of the measured angles and the mobility of the lumbosacral junction. The ventral displacement of S1 related to L7 was present in most of the animals in the three different groups not only in the extension position, raising the hypothesis about the racial standard established, a certain degree of ventral displacement of the sacrum might be part of the expected for the lumbosacral segment. It was noticed a statistical difference among the animals in the following groups and variables: endplate angle L7 S1 (groups A and B), the point of intersection of the endplate angle L7 S1 (groups A and B), lumbosacral angle (groups A and B) and the mobility of the lumbosacral junction (groups A and B, A and C). This way, the mobility showed itself as an relevant element in the criterion of evaluation of the lumbosacral segment. The CT examination showed being superior in the evaluation of the vertebral canal, intervertebral foramen and the articular processes, which could be evaluated with a greater number of details. It was concluded with this research that the two modalities of images complement each other, becoming important tools in the clinical- surgical evaluation in the lumbosacral segment, helping in the diagnosis, prognostic and therapeutic to be adopted.

Radiography is a common radiologic investigation despite abundant evidence of its limited diagnostic value. On the other hand, computed tomography (CT) has a high diagnostic value and is widely considered to be among the most important advances in medicine. However, CT exposes patients to a higher radiation dose and it might therefore not be acceptable simply to replace radiography with CT, despite the powerful diagnostic value of this technique. At the expense of reduced CT image quality, which could be adjusted to the diagnostic needs, low-dose CT of abdomen and lumbar spine can be performed at similar dose to radiography. The aim of the current thesis project was to evaluate low-dose CT of the abdomen and lumbar spine and to compare it with radiography. The hypothesis was that CT would give better image quality and diagnostic information compared to radiography at similar dose levels. Firstly, the diagnostic accuracy of low-dose CT of the abdomen was evaluated. Results showed that low-dose CT of abdomen has a high sensitivity and specificity compared to radiography, i.e., it has higher diagnostic accuracy. Similar results were obtained from our systematic review. Secondly, in a phantom study, an ovine phantom was scanned at various CT settings. The image quality was evaluated to obtain a protocol for the optimal settings for low-dose CT of lumbar spine at 1 mSv. This new protocol was then used in a clinical study to assess the image quality of low-dose CT of the lumbar spine and compare it to radiography. Results showed that low-dose CT has significantly better image quality than radiography. Finally, the impact of Iterative reconstruction (IR) on image quality of lumbar spine CT was tested. Iterative reconstruction is a recent CT technique aimed to reduce radiation dose and/or improve image quality. The results showed that the use of medium strength IR levels in the reconstruction of CT image improves image quality compared to filtered back projection. In conclusion, low-dose CT of the abdomen and lumbar spine, at about 1 mSv, has better image quality and gives diagnostic information compared to radiography at similar dose levels and it could therefore replace radiography.

Thesis (M.Tech.:Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xiii, 76, 13 leaves / To determine the prevalence and demographics of lumbo-sacral cases recorded at the D.U.T Chiropractic Day Clinic from 13th January 1995 to 30th November 2005. To identify the aetiology, common lumbo-sacral diagnoses, associated signs and symptoms, management and contra-indications to chiropractic treatment recorded on the initial consultation of patients with lumbo-sacral complaints.

Non-human primates have constituted an important group among animals subjected to various studies, such as ethological and paleontological studies who have revealed changes in anatomical structures linked to the evolution of primates and the detailed knowledge on their anatomy may represent an important factor for their preservation and protection. Aimed to identify the distribution of the femoral, saphenous, obturator and sciatic nerve of the pelvic limb of Cebus libidinosus (C.l.). In general, the enervation model of the four primates, men, baboons, chimpanzees and C.l. is identical, but in specific terms, the differences in enervations indicate evolution divergence closer to the branch of baboons in the evolutionary tree, and these data corroborate other comparative studies in relation to the same primates to vessels, muscles and nerves. In conclusion, the sciatic nerve sends branches to the biceps femoris muscle, semitendinous, semimebranosus and accessory and to the ischiofemoral muscle, in the distal third, this nerve is divided into tibial, sural cutaneous medial and common fibular nerves; the femoral nerve sends branches to the sartorius muscle, vastus intermedius muscle, vastus medialis muscle, to the vastus lateralis muscle and branches to the rectus femoris muscle and sends the saphenous nerve. The obturator nerve provides branches to the pectineus muscles, adductor brevis muscles, adductor magnus muscles, adductor longus muscle and glacilis muscle. / Os primatas não-humanos têm constituído um grupo importante dentre os animais submetidos a diversos estudos, tais como etológicos e paleontológicos que têm revelado mudanças nas estruturas anatômicas associadas à evolução dos primatas e o conhecimento detalhado sobre a sua anatomia pode representar um fator importante para a sua preservação e proteção. Objetivou-se verificar a distribuição dos nervos femoral, safeno, obturatório e isquiático do membro pélvico de Cebus libidinosus (C.l.). Em geral, o modelo de inervação dos quatro primatas, homens, babuínos, chipanzés e C.l. é semelhante, mas em casos específicos, as diferenças nas inervações indicam divergência evolucionária mais próxima ao grupo dos babuínos na árvore evolutiva, e esses dados corroboram outros estudos comparativos em relação aos mesmos primatas quanto aos vasos, músculos e nervos. Em conclusão, o nervo isquiático emite ramos para os músculos bíceps femoral, semitendíneo, semimembranáceo próprio, semimembranáceo acessório e isquiofemoral e no terço distal da coxa, este nervo está dividido em nervos tibial, cutâneo sural medial e fibular comum; o nervo femoral envia ramos para os músculos sartório, vastos medial, intermédio e lateral, retofemoral e emite o nervo safeno e o nervo obturatório fornece ramos para os músculos pectíneo, adutores curto, longo e magno, grácil. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias

Estudou-se em 30 fetos suínos oriundos do cruzamento das linhagens Dan Bred e AGPIC337, natimortos, a origem e distribuição do nervo femoral, os quais foram fixados em solução de formaldeído a 10%. Em 96,67% dos animais o número de vértebras lombares foram seis e em 3,33% sete. O nervo femoral originou-se de L4 e L5 (66,67%), L5 e L6 (26,67%) e L3 e L4 (6,66%). Em relação a sua distribuição emitiu ramos para os músculos psoas maior, psoas menor, ilíaco, pectíneo, quadríceps femoral em 100% dos casos, 43,33% para o sartório e 6,66% para o grácil. / He studied in 30 pig fetuses from the crossing of lines Dan Bred and AGPIC337, stillbirths, the origin and distribution of the femoral nerve, which were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution. In 96.67% of the animals the number of lumbar vertebrae were six and seven 3,33%. The femoral nerve originated from L4 and L5 (66,67%), L5 and L6 (26,67%) and L3 and L4 (6,66%). Regarding its distribution branches issued for the psoas major, psoas minor, iliacus, pectineus, vastus, through vast, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris in 100% of cases, 43.33% for the Sartorius and 6.66% for gracile. / Dissertação (Mestrado)

De multiples études ont rapporté une prévalence augmentée de spondylolyse et de spondylolisthésis chez certains groupes d’athlètes, en particulier les gymnastes, pouvant atteindre jusqu’à 40 à 50%. À cela s’ajoute le fait que plusieurs études récentes ont démontré une association entre le spondylolisthésis et une morphologie et orientation sacro-pelviennes déviante de la normale. La morphologie et l’orientation sacro-pelviennes chez les gymnastes ainsi que leur relation avec le spondylolisthésis n’ont jamais été analysées. L’objectif de cette étude était donc d’évaluer la prévalence du spondylolithésis au sein d’une cohorte de gymnastes ainsi que les caractéristiques démographiques et paramètres de morphologie et orientation sacro-pelviennes associés. Afin d’atteindre cet objectif, une évaluation des caractéristiques démographiques et des paramètres radiologiques d’une cohorte de 92 jeunes gymnastes a été menée. Les deux études présentées ont démontré une prévalence de spondylolisthésis chez les jeunes gymnastes de 6.5%, similaire à celle retrouvée dans la population générale. Le nombre d’heures d’entraînement hebdomadaire a été le seul facteur statistiquement différents entre les gymnastes avec et ceux sans spondylolisthésis. Nos résultats ont aussi démontré que les gymnastes atteints d’un spondylolisthésis présentent une morphologie et une orientation sacro-pelviennes sagittales différentes, en terme d’incidence pelvienne (p = 0.02) et d’angle de table sacrée (p = 0.036), de celles des gymnastes sans spondylolisthésis. Nos observations supportent donc l’importance du rôle de la morphologie et de l’orientation sacro-pelviennes dans le développement du spondylolisthésis. / Multiple studies have reported an increased prevalence of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in certain groups of athletes, including gymnasts, where it can reach as high as 40 to 50%. Numerous studies have shown that sagittal sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation is different in spondylolisthesis. Sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation in gymnasts and their relationship with spondylolisthesis have never been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of spondylolisthesis in a cohort of gymnasts, as well as the associated demographic characteristics and sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation. In order to achieve our goal, an evaluation of different demographic characteristics and radiological parameters was performed on a cohort of 92 young gymnasts. A 6.5 % prevalence of spondylolisthesis was found. The weekly training schedule was the only statistically significant different demographic characteristic between the two groups, with and without spondylolisthesis. Our results have also shown that sagittal sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation, in terms of pelvic incidence (p = 0.02) and sacral table angle (p = 0.036), is different between gymnasts with and without spondylolisthesis. In conclusion, our observations support the importance of sacro-pelvic morphology and orientation in spondylolisthesis.