Evaluation of atlantooccipital overlapping and cerebral ventricle size in dogs with atlantoaxial instability

This study investigated cerebral ventricle size and concurrent craniocervical junction abnormality in relation to atlantooccipital overlapping (AOO) in dogs with atlantoaxial instability (AAI). A total of 61 dogs were treated with atlantoaxial ventral fixation. Medical records of each dog, including magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) images, were retrospectively reviewed. CT images were assessed for the presence of AOO and the dogs were then assigned to either an AOO group or a non-AOO group accordingly. CT images were also evaluated to determine the foramen magnum (FM) index. Syringomyelia, cerebellar compression, dorsal compression, and the degree of enlargement of each cerebral ventricle were evaluated using MR images. Of the 61 dogs, 23 had AOO and 38 did not. Furthermore, the ventricle/brain height ratio, the fourth ventricle height/cerebellum length ratio, and the fourth ventricle width/cerebellum length ratio were significantly higher in the AOO group than in the non-AOO group. However, the FM index, third ventricle/brain height ratio, and incidence of syringomyelia did not differ significantly between the two groups. Dogs with concurrent AOO exhibited significantly more dilatation of the lateral and fourth ventricles.