ORTHOPAEDIC OR NEUROLOGIC? A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO GAIT PROBLEMS Gualtiero Gandini, DVM, Dipl. ECVN; Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Veterinarie - Università di Bologna Via Tolara di Sopra, 50 – 40064 – Ozzano Emilia (BO) Email:
[email protected] Gait examination is of crucial importance and is a relevant part of the neurological examination. The correct evaluation of gait requires experience and, especially during the first steps of the veterinary profession, may be necessary to observe carefully and for long time the gait of a patient in order to “decode” adequately what is appreciated during the examination. Re-evaluation of video recording and the use of slow motion video can be very helpful. During gait evaluation, the first aim should be the pure description of what was noticed. The interpretation of the observed signs should be done only in a second time, matching them with the categories of gait abnormalities. FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY: the normal gait –Normal gait in the dog and cat depends on the functional integrity of the cerebral cortex, the brainstem, cerebellum, spinal cord (including ascending and descending pathways), peripheral nerves (sensory and motor), neuromuscular junctions and muscles. A voluntary movement is initiated by nerve impulses generated in the cerebral cortex or brainstem. The cerebellum coordinates these voluntary movements and the vestibular system maintains balance during the performance of the movement. The nerve impulses from the brain to the peripheral nerves and, subsequently, to the muscles, travel along the descending tracts of the spinal cord. Information on the position of the limbs during movements reach the cerebellum and the forebrain from the periphery through the ascending tracts of the spinal cord and brainstem.