Every week, the BVNS neurologists, residents and interns convene to discuss a human or veterinary neurology/neurosurgery article.
NeuroBites is a digestible synopsis written by Dr. Bush of the article covered in journal club.
Welcome to NeuroBites.
Hughes LE, Canine Thoracic Costovertebral and Costotransverse Joints: Three Case Reports of Dysfunction and Manual Therapy Guidelines for Assessment and Treatment of These Structures Topics in Companion An Medicine 29 (2014) 1–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.tcam.2014.04.003
Click HERE for the full article.
The point of today’s article was that proximal rib displacement can cause muscle spasm, lameness, neck pain, odd postures (like the prayer position) and mimic disk disease. Therefore, in patients where MRI +/- CSF exam are normal, assessing for rib displacement and its treatment can resolve the problem.
Dr. Akin did a great job of presenting the article and told us about a 3 year-old bichon with moderate to severe neck pain where MRI, spinal and thoracic limb radiographs and orthopedic exam were normal. While under anesthesia for the radiographs the orthopedist thought to manipulate the patient’s ribs and she woke up pain free.
Dr. Lipitz described 2 other similar cases (each small breed dogs that you would think had disk disease) with similar stories. No predisposing factor was determined in these dogs.
Dr. Bensfield described that people can have severe rib pain, difficulty breathing, and referred neck pain, especially when they fall on their neck or back during martial arts training.
Dr. Bush asked Dr. Lipitz and Dr.Akin if their patients who were suffering from this problem had previously participated in martial arts training. Hopefully this email will leave you thinking about bichons in a martial arts class.