Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with permanent leg weakness after spinal cord contrast injection
By Leitch, B J et al.·Published in New Zealand veterinary journal·2013·Institute of Veterinary·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Permanent monoparesis in a dog after intramedullary injection of iohexol into the lumbar spinal cord.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old spayed Doberman Pinscher was brought in for sudden weakness in her back legs. During a procedure to check her spine, a contrast dye was accidentally injected into her spinal cord, leading to ongoing weakness in her left hind leg. After surgery to address a disc problem, she regained some use of her right leg but still struggled with her left leg even after 14 months. Unfortunately, tests showed that the nerve function in her left leg had not improved, indicating a lasting injury from the injection.
People also search for: dog hind leg weakness · Doberman Pinscher spinal injury · treatment for dog nerve damage
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Abstract CASE HISTORY: An 8-year-old, spayed, Doberman Pinscher bitch presented for assessment of acute hindlimb paresis. CLINICAL FINDINGS: During a lumbar myelographic contrast study a small volume of iohexol contrast agent was inadvertently injected into the cord parenchyma. After surgical hemilaminectomy for an intervertebral disc extrusion at L1-2 the dog recovered use of one hindlimb, but had ongoing extensor weakness of the left hindlimb. Left femoral nerve function had not returned after 14 months. DIAGNOSIS: EMG findings 14 months after the incident indicated persistent femoral neuropathy consistent with the intramedullary contrast injection at L3-4. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Inadvertent deposition of iohexol into spinal cord parenchyma may be rare, but if it occurs it can have long-lasting consequences.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22985093/