Non-ambulatory dogs with cervical intervertebral disc herniation: single versus multiple ventral slot decompression

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Canine Health

Background:

• Cervical intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) is a common cause of non-ambulatory status in dogs.
• Ventral slot decompression (VSD) is a surgical technique used to treat cervical IVDH.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of non-ambulatory dogs with cervical IVDH in a private clinic setting.
• To compare patient signalment and surgical outcomes between dogs undergoing single versus multiple VSD procedures.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study analyzed 185 dogs with non-ambulatory tetraparesis/tetraplegia and cervical IVDH.
• Medical records from January 2010 to September 2016 were screened.
• Data included signalment, neurological status, disc location, time to ambulation, and short-term outcome.

Main Results:

• 35.3% of dogs with cervical IVDH were non-ambulatory, with higher prevalence in males and neutered dogs.
• 96.2% of surgically treated dogs regained ambulatory status.
• Dogs with multiple IVDH were older; breed, sex, neutering, or size did not impact outcome.

Conclusions:

• Multiple VSD procedures in dogs with cervical IVDH yielded good postoperative outcomes.
• Short-term functional recovery was comparable between single and multiple VSD groups.