Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Spinal synovial cysts causing nerve problems in nine dogs
By Dickinson, P J et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2001·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Extradural spinal synovial cysts in nine dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Nine dogs with neck or back problems were found to have extradural spinal synovial cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs that can press on the spinal cord. These dogs showed signs of spinal cord compression, and imaging tests confirmed the presence of these cysts. The dogs were divided into two groups: younger giant breeds with multiple cysts in the neck and older large breeds with a single cyst in the back. All dogs underwent surgery to relieve the pressure from the cysts, and after an average follow-up of 17 months, they were all walking normally and had better neurological function than when they first came in.
People also search for: dog back problems · dog neck pain treatment · spinal cysts in dogs · dog surgery recovery · dog myelopathy symptoms
Abstract
Nine dogs presenting for investigation of cervical or thoracolumbar myelopathies were diagnosed with extradural spinal synovial cysts. Degenerative disease affecting the articular facets or intervertebral discs was present on plain spinal radiographs in all cases. Myelography was consistent with dorsolateral, extradural spinal cord compression. Two groups of dogs were identified: (1) young, giant breed dogs with multiple cysts involving one or more levels of the cervical spinal cord; and (2) older, large breed dogs with solitary cysts involving the thoracolumbar spinal cord. The synovial cysts constituted the major compressive lesions in four of the dogs. Analysis of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid demonstrated albuminocytological dissociation, consistent with chronic compressive myelopathy, in six dogs. All dogs underwent decompressive surgery and the diagnosis of synovial cysts was confirmed histologically. The mean follow-up period was 17 months (range four to 36 months). At the time of follow-up, all dogs were fully ambulatory with improved neurological function compared with that at initial presentation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11688527/