The spinal cord-to-vertebral canal area ratio measured with computed tomography is lower in the thoracolumbar than the cervical region in French Bulldogs

OBJECTIVE To compare spinal cord-to-vertebral canal area ratios measured with CT between the cervical and thoracolumbar regions in French Bulldogs. ANIMALS 37 French Bulldogs presented to a referral hospital between 2016 and 2019. PROCEDURES The study was conducted as a retrospective observational study. Exclusion criteria were evidence of vertebral malformations or spinal cord compression at the sites where measurements were obtained and the presence of cervicothoracic or thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae or neurologic deficits. CT images were reviewed, and measurements were performed by 2 investigators. Measurements of the spinal cord and vertebral canal were made at the level of or immediately cranial to the midbodies of C5 and L1. RESULTS A 2-tailed, paired t test indicated that the mean spinal cord-to-vertebral canal area ratio differed significantly (P < .01) between C5 (0.726) and L1 (0.605). The ratio was lower in the thoracolumbar region, suggesting that the vertebral canal was relatively larger in this region.

Automated summary

This study compared the spinal cord-to-vertebral canal area ratios measured in CT between the cervical and thoracolumbar regions in French Bulldogs. The results showed a significant difference in the mean ratio between C5 and L1, with a lower ratio in the thoracolumbar region, suggesting a relatively larger vertebral canal in this region.