TY - JOUR AU - Daraban, Constantin AU - Murino, Carla AU - Marzatico, Giuseppe AU - Mennonna, Giuseppina AU - Fatone, Gerardo AU - Auletta, Luigi AU - Micieli, Fabiana AU - Vulpe, Vasile AU - Meomartino, Leonardo PY - 2014/11/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Using geographical information system for spatial evaluation of canine extruded disc herniation JF - Geospatial Health JA - Geospat Health VL - 9 IS - 1 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.4081/gh.2014.18 UR - https://www.geospatialhealth.net/gh/article/view/18 SP - 213-220 AB - Disc herniation is one of the most common pathologies of the vertebral column in dogs. The aim of this study was to develop a geographical information system (GIS)-based vertebral canal (VC) map useful for spatial evaluation of extruded disc herniation (EDH) in dogs. ArcGIS® was used to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional maps, in which the VC surface is divided into polygons by lines representing latitude and longitude. Actual locations and directions of the herniated disc material were assessed by a series of 142 computer tomographies of dogs collected between 2005 and 2013. Most EDHs were located on the cervical and transitional regions (thoraco-lumbar and lumbo-sacral) and shown at the level of the ven- tro-cranial and ventro-central polygons created. Choropleth maps, highlighting the distribution and the location/direction patterns of the EDHs throughout the VC, were produced based on the frequency of the ailment. GIS proved to be a valuable tool in analysing EDH in dogs. Further studies are required for biomechanical analysis of EDH patterns. ER -