Partial lateral corpectomy for ventral extradural thoracic spinal cord compression in a cat

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Comparative Medicine

Background:

• Spinal cord compression in cats can lead to ambulatory paraparesis.
• Intervertebral disc disease is a common cause of spinal compression.
• Surgical intervention is often necessary for effective treatment.

Observation:

• A 7-year-old domestic shorthair cat presented with ambulatory paraparesis.
• Diagnostic imaging revealed extradural compressive lesions at the Th3-Th4 intervertebral disc space.
• The cat had no reported history of trauma.

Findings:

• A right-sided lateral partial corpectomy was performed, adapting a technique used in dogs.
• Complete spinal decompression was confirmed intraoperatively.
• The cat showed gradual improvement within 8 weeks post-surgery, with only a minor residual deficit at 1 year.

Implications:

• This case report is the first to describe partial lateral corpectomy in a feline patient.
• The successful outcome suggests this technique is viable for treating spinal compression in cats.
• This approach may be beneficial for other small animal patients requiring spinal decompression.