Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Screw-tailed dogs with spinal hemivertebrae treated by surgery
By Jeffery, Nicholas D et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2007·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Imaging findings and surgical treatment of hemivertebrae in three dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three young screw-tailed dogs were brought in because they were having trouble walking and showed weakness in their back legs. They also had noticeable spinal deformities, but they could still feel pain in their legs and had no issues with bowel or bladder control. After imaging tests revealed severe spinal cord compression due to hemivertebrae (abnormal vertebrae), each dog underwent surgery to relieve the pressure and stabilize their spine. Thankfully, all three dogs recovered well and regained strong movement, with only slight coordination issues remaining.
People also search for: dog back leg weakness · screw-tailed dog spinal surgery · hemivertebrae treatment in dogs
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: 3 immature screw-tailed dogs were evaluated because of progressive pelvic limb paraparesis. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Each dog had marked ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs and a palpable deformity of the midthoracic portion of the vertebral column. Pain perception in the pelvic limbs was considered normal, and there was no evidence of fecal or urinary incontinence in any of the 3 dogs. Radiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed hemivertebrae with severe dorsoventral stenosis of the vertebral canal resulting in spinal cord compression in 2 dogs and lateral compression in the other. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Each dog underwent decompressive surgery consisting of dorsal laminectomy or hemilaminectomy and vertebral stabilization by use of combinations of Kirschner wires or threaded external fixator pins plus polymethylmethacrylate bone cement. All dogs regained strong locomotor function with minimal residual pelvic limb ataxia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Little detailed information regarding surgical treatment of hemivertebrae in dogs is available; results of treatment in these 3 dogs suggest that spinal cord decompression and stabilization of the vertebral column can achieve a satisfactory, functional outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17302550/