Abstract
The aim of this study was to test the applicability of electrical stimulation of lumbar spinal nerve roots and obtain normative electrical root stimulation (ERS) data for L7 nerve root and sciatic nerve in dogs. For that purpose ERS and sciatic nerve stimulations were performed consecutively, in totally 40 healthy dogs. ERS was applied in the L7/S1 intervertebral space via monopolar needle electrodes. Muscle responses were recorded from the gastrocnemius muscles on the left and right hind limbs. Sciatic nerve stimulation was performed at the greater trochanter level on the left hind limb, with records obtained from the left gastrocnemius muscle. Mean root latencies of the left and right side were 5.22 ± 0.49 ms and 5.29 ± 0.53 ms, respectively. There was no significant difference in root latency between the right and left sides. The mean terminal latency was 3.82 ± 0.46 ms. The proximal motor nerve conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve was 63.15 ± 3.43 m/s. The results of this study show that ERS provides objective data about the integrity of lumbar spinal nerve roots by evaluating the entire population of motor fibres and total length of the motor axon in dogs. ERS can be considered a useful diagnostic method for confirmation of diagnoses of lumbosacral diseases.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barret KE, Brooks HL, Boitano S, Barman SM (2010) Excitable Tissue. In: Ganong s Review of Medical Physiology, 23rd edn. McGraw–Hill Companies Inc, New York, pp 79–92
Chang CW, Lien IN (1990) Spinal nerve stimulation in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 69:318–322
Chrisman CL (1982) Problem in Small Animal Neurology. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia
Cuddon PA (2002) Electrophysiology in neuromuscular disease. Vet Clin N Am Small Anim Pract 32:31–62
De Lahunta A (2009) Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology, 3rd edn. W.B. Saunders Company, Missouri
Dorfman LJ, Robinson LR (1997) AAEM minimonograph #47: normative data in electrodiagnostic medicine. Muscle Nerve 20:4–14
Ertekin C, Nejat RS, Sirin H, Selçuki D, Araç N, Ertaş M (1994a) Comparison of magnetic coil and needle–electrical stimulation in diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Muscle Nerve 17:685–686
Ertekin C, Nejat RS, Sirin H, Selçuki D, Arac N, Ertaş M, Colakoğlu Z (1994b) Comparison of magnetic coil stimulation and needle electrical stimulation in the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathy. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 96:124–129
Evans BA, Daube JR, Litchy WJ (1990) A comparison of magnetic and electrical stimulation of spinal nerves. Muscle Nerve 13:414–420
Fisher MA (2002) Electrophysiology of radiculopathies. Clin Neurophysiol 113:317–335
Fuglsang–Frederiksen A, Pugdahl K (2011) Current status on electrodiagnostic standards and guidelines in neuromuscular disorders. Clin Neurophysiol 122:440–455
Jacobson A, Schrader SC (1987) Peripheral nerve injury associated with fracture or fracture–dislocation of the pelvis in dogs and cats: 34 cases (1978–1982). J Am Vet Med Assoc 190:569–572
Kim NH, Yang IH, Song IK (1994) Electrodiagnostic and histologic changes of graded caudal compression on cauda equina in dog. Spine 19:1054–62
Kornegay JN (1986) Vertebral diseases of large breed dogs. In: Kornegay JN (ed) Neurologic Disorders. Churchill Livingstone, New York, pp 197–215
Lang J, Seiler G (2010) Neuroradiology. In: Jaggy A (ed) Small Animal Neurology An Illustrated Text. Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, pp 87–151
Lorenz MD, Cotaes JR, Kent M (2011) Handbook of Veterinary Neurology, 5th edn. W. B, Saunders, St. Louis
Macdonell RA, Cros D, Shahani BT (1992) Lumbosacral nerve root stimulation comparing electrical with surface magnetic coil techniques. Muscle Nerve 15:885–890
Menkes DL, Hood DC, Ballesteros RA, Williams DA (1998) Root stimulation improves the detection of acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies. Muscle Nerve 21:298–308
Ocal MK, Sarierler M (2007) Effects of triple pelvic osteotomy on anatomic structures of the pelvic region in the dog. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 10:467–472
Oh SJ (1993) Clinical Electromyography, 2th edn. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore
Sharp NJH, Wheeler SJ (2005) Lumbosacral disease. In: Small Animal Spinal Disorders. Diagnosis and Surgery, 2th edn. Elsevier Mosby, China, pp 181–195
Sjöström L (2003) Lumbosacral Disorders. In: Slatter D (ed) Textbook of Small Animal Surgery. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1227–1237
Sorjonen DC, Milton JL, Steiss JE, Hathcock JT, Dunbar M (1990) Hip dysplasia with bilateral ischiatic nerve entrapment in a dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 197:495–497
Srenk P, Flühmann G, Muhle A, Bergamasco L, Jaggy A (2010) Electrodiagnostics. In: Jaggy A (ed) Small Animal Neurology An Illustrated Text. Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, pp 154–163
Steiss JE, Argue CK (1987) Normal values for radial, peronal and tibial motor nerve conduction velocities in adult sheep, with comparison to adult dogs. Vet Res Commun 11:243–252
Swallow JS, Griffiths IR (1977) Age related changes in the motor nerve conduction velocity in dogs. Res Vet Sci 23:29–32
Tataroglu C, Bicerol B, Kiylioglu N, Ozkul A, Akyol A (2007) Proximal femoral conductions in patients with lumboscral radiculoplexus neuropathy. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 109:654–660
Tennent–Brown BS (2007) Trauma with neurologic sequelae. Vet Clin N Am Equine Pract 23:81–101
Turan E, Bolukbasi O (2006) The application of an electrophysiological bulbocavernosus reflex test in male dogs. Res Vet Sci 81:270–273
Turan E, Unsal C, Yildirim IG (2008) The elecrophysiological bulbocavernosus reflex test in female dogs: Its technique and applicability. Res Vet Sci 84:321–325
Uludag B, Ertekin C, Turman AB, Demir D, Kiylioglu N (2000) Proximal and distal motor nerve conduction in obturator and femoral nerves. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 81:1166–1170
Van Nes JJ, Nan den Brom WE (1986) Electroneurographic examination of the ulnar and radial nerves in the dog: reference values, biological variation and reproducibility. Res Vet Sci 40:189–96
Walker TL, Redding RW, Braund KG (1979) Motor nerve conduction velocity and latency in the dog. Am J Vet Res 40:1433–1439
Worth AJ, Thompson DJ, Hartman AC (2009) Degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in working dogs: Current concepts and review. N Z Vet J 57:319–330
Zileli B, Ertekin C, Zileli M, Yünten N (2002) Diagnostic value of electrical stimulation of lumbosacral roots in lumbar spinal stenosis. Acta Neurol Scand 105:221–227
Acknowledgments
This study is a part of the research numbered TUBITAK 111O404 that was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. We are grateful for the support of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey.
Conflict of interest
The authors of this paper have no financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Turan, E., Unsal, C., Oren, M.U. et al. Electrical stimulation of lumbar spinal nerve roots in dogs. Vet Res Commun 38, 229–235 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-014-9608-z
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-014-9608-z