Feasibility of the grading system according to Pfirrmann for intervertebral disc degeneration in chondrodystrophic and nonchondrodystrophic dogs
Summary
MR images of spinal segments from 202 dogs were reviewed and the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration was scored on every visible intervertebral disc. This was done by three individual observers by means of the classification system, for human lumbar intervertebral discs, according to Pfirrmann et al. (2001). The purpose of this study was to see if this system was indeed applicable to all intervertebral discs, and not only the lumbar ones, in dogs of all different breeds and sizes. This was done by using a weighted kappa analysis. The kappa scores ranged between 0,81-0,93, which stands for a very good intra- and interobserver agreement. To further prove our theory we evaluated the association, individually, between the degree of disc degeneration and: type of dog (chondrodystrophic /non chondrodystrophic), age, and between the location of the disc. These variables are all significantly correlated with each other, but the correlation was not very strong.