1. Small Animal Spine
Chapter 16

2. Introduction Factors to consider when radiographing spine:
Vertebral column must always be parallel to the tabletop.
The disc spaces of the spine must be nearly perpendicular to the tabletop and in parallel alignment with the central axis of the x-ray beam.

3. Anatomy of the Spine

4. Dog Spine

5. Cervical Spine Ventrodorsal View
Patient is in dorsal recumbency with head extended cranially and the front limbs pulled caudally alongside the body.
Cervical spine must be parallel to cassette.
View should include the base of the skull, the entire cervical spine, and the first few thoracic vertebrae.
For large patients, may need to radiograph the cervical spine in two separate areas.

6. Ventrodorsal View of Cervical Spine

7. Cervical Spine Extended Lateral View
Patient is in lateral recumbency with head and neck extended and the front limbs pulled in a caudal direction.
View should include base of skull, entire cervical spine, and a few thoracic vertebrae.
For large patients, may be necessary to radiograph the spine in two sections, with views overlapping.

8. Cervical Spine-Lateral View

9. Cervical Spine-Lateral View

10. Cervical Spine Flexed Lateral View
Patient is in lateral recumbency with front legs pulled in a caudal direction.
Care must be given not hyperflex the neck.
Careful with any endotracheal tube that may be in place.

11. Cervical Spine Hyperextended Lateral View
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with front limbs extended caudally.
Head and neck region is extended in a dorsal direction.
View should include the area from the base of the skull to the first few thoracic vertebrae.

12. Thoracic Spine Ventrodorsal View
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with the front limbs extended cranially.
Rear limbs can be in normal position.
Must be maintained in a true ventrodorsal position so that the sternum is superimposed on the thoracic spine.
View should include all of the thoracic vertebrae from C-7 to L-1.

13. Thoracic Ventrodorsal View

14. Thoracic Spine Lateral View
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with the front and rear limbs moderately extended in opposite directions away from the body.
The thoracic spine is centered on the cassette, and field of view should include area from C-7 to L-1.

15. Lateral view, thoracic Spine

16. Thoracic Spine- Lateral View

17. Thoracolumbar Spine Ventrodorsal View
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with the front limbs extended cranially.
Spine is centered to the cassette.
View should include all of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.

18. Thoracolumbar Spine-Ventrodorsal View

19. Thoracolumbar Spine Lateral View
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with front and rear legs pulled in opposite directions.
Spine should be centered on cassette.
View should include entire thoracolumbar spine.

20. Thoracolumbar Spine- Lateral View

21. Lumbar Spine Ventrodorsal View
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with the front limbs extended cranially and the rear limbs in a normal position.
Spine should be centered on cassette.
View should include the entire lumbar spine from T-13 to S-1.

22. Lumbar Spine-Ventrodorsal View

23. Lumbar Spine Lateral View
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with the front and rear limbs in moderate extension.
Lumbar spine is centered on the cassette.
View should include the entire lumbar vertebrae.

24. Lumbar Spine-Lateral View

25. Sacrum Ventrodorsal View
Patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with rear limbs in normal position.
Sacrum is centered on the cassette.
X-ray tube must be directed at a 30 degree angle toward the head and centered over the sacrum
View should include area from L-6 to iliac crests

26. Sacrum
Lateral View
Same positioning techniques as those for the lateral pelvis.

27. Caudal Spine Ventrodorsal View
Patient is in dorsal recumbency with rear limbs in normal position.
Tail is extended in a caudal direction.
Centered on cassette.

28. Caudal Spine Lateral View
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with tail extended in caudal direction.
Tail is centered on cassette.