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Syringomyelia and hydrocephalus in a dog
T Itoh1, R Nishimura, S Matsunaga
1Department of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|September 1, 1996
Summary
A Pomeranian with syringomyelia and hydrocephalus showed partial improvement after a laminectomy and acetazolamide treatment. This surgical approach, adapted from human medicine, helped stabilize the dog
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Comparative Medicine
Background:
- Syringomyelia, a condition causing spinal cord cavities, often presents with progressive neurological deficits in dogs.
- Concurrent hydrocephalus, an excess of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, can complicate syringomyelia management.
Observation:
- A 7-year-old Pomeranian exhibited 6-month history of worsening paraparesis.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe cervical syringomyelia directly communicating with a dilated fourth ventricle.
Findings:
- Medical management with acetazolamide initially failed to halt neurological progression.
- Surgical laminectomy of the first and second cervical vertebrae, followed by continued acetazolamide, resulted in partial amelioration of clinical signs.
- No further neurological deterioration was observed during the 12-month post-operative follow-up period.
Implications:
- Cervical laminectomy represents a potential surgical option for treating syringomyelia in dogs, particularly when medically refractory.
- This case highlights the successful adaptation of a human surgical technique for canine spinal cord disease.
- Further research into surgical interventions for syringomyelia in companion animals is warranted.