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Differences in Epidural Pathology between Cervical and Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disk Extrusions in Dogs
L Züger1,2,3, A Fadda1,2,3, A Oevermann1,4
1Division of Neurological Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
|December 2, 2017
Summary
Cervical intervertebral disk (IVD) extrusions in dogs show less inflammation and calcification than thoracolumbar ones, leading to better outcomes. These findings suggest distinct biochemical and biomechanical differences between cervical and thoracolumbar IVD disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Comparative Pathology
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Intervertebral disk (IVD) extrusions share basic pathophysiology across spinal locations.
- Significant clinical differences exist between cervical and thoracolumbar IVD extrusions, with incomplete explanations.
- The epidural inflammatory response is hypothesized to differ between these locations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differences in epidural inflammatory response between cervical and thoracolumbar IVD extrusions in dogs.
- To evaluate the association between inflammation severity, clinical signs, and histopathologic variables.
- To determine the impact of chondrodystrophic phenotype and spinal localization on IVD extrusion outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Comparative study of 55 dogs with cervical and 80 dogs with thoracolumbar IVD extrusions.
- Analysis of clinical data and histopathologic variables, including epidural inflammation and nucleus pulposus calcification.
- Statistical evaluation of associations between inflammation, clinical presentation, outcome, and localization.
Main Results:
- Dogs with cervical IVD extrusions were older, experienced less severe and shorter-duration neurologic signs, showed increased pain, and had better outcomes compared to thoracolumbar cases.
- Histopathology revealed significantly less calcification and inflammation in cervical epidural extrusions.
- No significant differences in chondrodystrophic phenotype were observed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- A less intensive epidural inflammatory response in the cervical region correlates with reduced nucleus pulposus calcification.
- These findings indicate underlying biochemical, metabolic, and biomechanical differences between cervical and thoracolumbar IVD extrusions.
- Further research is needed to fully characterize these location-specific differences.
