Infrared Thermographic Evaluation Following Hemilaminectomy in Dogs with Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Extrusion:...

(1) Background: Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) represents one of the most frequently encountered neurological disorders in canine patients and often necessitates surgical decompression by means of hemilaminectomy. Objective methods for evaluating postoperative inflammatory response and tissue healing remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate temporal changes in local cutaneous temperature and thermal patterns in dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion using Infrared Thermography; (2) Methods: Fifteen dogs diagnosed with Hansen type I thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion were included. Diagnosis was established through neurological examination and computed tomography. Thermographic assessment of the thoracolumbar region (T11-L3) was performed preoperatively (Day 0), 24 h postoperatively (Day 1), and 7 days after surgery (Day 7) using an FLIR E50 thermal camera. Mean cutaneous temperature and thermal distribution patterns were analyzed. Statistical evaluation was performed using Repeated Measures ANOVA and the Friedman test; (3) Results: Significant temporal differences in local cutaneous temperature were identified between the evaluated time points (p < 0.001). Thermographic assessment demonstrated progressive modifications in thermal distribution throughout the postoperative period. No postoperative complications, including seroma formation, wound dehiscence, or fistula development, were observed; (4) Conclusions: Infrared thermography enabled identification of significant postoperative thermal changes following hemilaminectomy and may represent a useful complementary non-invasive method for postoperative monitoring of tissue healing in dogs.