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Lumbosacral intervertebral disk extrusions in 13 dogs
Luca Bresciani1, Raquel Trevail2, Stephen Clarke2
1Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Veterinary Surgery : VS
|March 22, 2021
Summary
Surgical treatment for lumbosacral intervertebral disk extrusion (IVDE) in dogs, characterized by specific MRI findings, generally leads to excellent outcomes. Early surgical intervention is key for successful recovery in canine IVDE cases.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Canine Spinal Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging in Veterinary Medicine
Background:
- Lumbosacral intervertebral disk extrusion (IVDE) is a significant cause of spinal pain and neurological deficits in dogs.
- Accurate diagnosis and surgical management are crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics, and surgical outcomes for dogs diagnosed with lumbosacral IVDE.
- To evaluate the efficacy of surgical decompression for this condition.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 13 dogs surgically treated for confirmed lumbosacral IVDE.
- Review of clinical records and MRI studies, applying thoracolumbar IVDE criteria.
- Postoperative outcomes were subjectively assessed as excellent, good, or poor.
Main Results:
- All dogs presented with acute/subacute lumbosacral pain and nerve root signature; 7 had neurological deficits.
- MRI revealed lateralized herniated disk material and degeneration at L7-S1 in all cases.
- 11 of 13 dogs achieved an excellent outcome following dorsal laminectomy and disk material removal, with 2 poor outcomes attributed to complications or persistent deficits.
Conclusions:
- Lumbosacral IVDE in dogs typically presents with specific clinical and MRI findings, including pain, nerve root signature, and dispersed extradural material.
- Early surgical decompression via dorsal laminectomy generally yields excellent results for canine lumbosacral IVDE.
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