Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Early disk reherniation causing sudden paralysis in 11 dogs
By Hettlich, Bianca F et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2012·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Early reherniation of disk material in eleven dogs with surgically treated thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 11 dogs, all with back problems, experienced sudden worsening of their movement and coordination just a few days after surgery to relieve pressure on their spinal cords. Advanced imaging showed that disk material had reherniated, causing new compression. Ten of these dogs underwent a second surgery to remove the extruded material and showed significant improvement within 24 hours, being able to walk again by the time they were discharged. However, one dog that did not have the second surgery did not recover any movement after 185 days.
People also search for: dog back surgery recovery · dog spinal surgery complications · dog reherniation after surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report findings and outcomes of dogs with reherniation of nuclear material within 7 days of hemilaminectomy for acute thoracolumbar (TL) intervertebral disk extrusion. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Chondrodystrophic dogs (n = 11). METHODS: Dogs with acute neurologic decline within 1 week of surgical decompression for TL disk extrusion were identified. Advanced imaging was used to document extradural spinal cord compression at the previous surgery site. Ten dogs had a 2nd decompressive surgery to remove extruded nuclear material. RESULTS: All dogs had acute neurologic deterioration (average, 2 neurologic grades) 2-7 days after initial hemilaminectomy. Computed tomography (CT; n = 10) or myelography (n = 1) documented extradural spinal cord compression compatible with extruded disk material at the previous hemilaminectomy site. Dogs that had a 2nd surgical decompression improved neurologically within 24 hours and were paraparetic at discharge. The single dog that did not have decompressive surgery did not regain deep nociception during 185-day follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Early reherniation at the site of previous hemilaminectomy can produce acute deterioration of neurologic function and should be investigated with diagnostic imaging. Repeat decompressive surgery can lead to functional recovery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22103469/