Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Recurrent disc extrusion after back surgery in 662 short-legged dogs
By Aikawa, Takeshi et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2012·Aikawa Veterinary Medical Center, Japan·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Recurrent thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion after hemilaminectomy and concomitant prophylactic fenestration in 662 chondrodystrophic dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of chondrodystrophic dogs, which are breeds prone to back problems, underwent surgery for intervertebral disc issues. After the initial surgery, some dogs experienced a recurrence of symptoms, but many improved without needing a second operation. The study found that dogs who had a specific preventative procedure (prophylactic fenestration) during their first surgery had a much lower chance of needing further surgery compared to those who did not. Overall, the preventative treatment was deemed safe and effective in reducing the risk of future disc problems.
People also search for: dog back surgery recovery · chondrodystrophic dog disc problems · intervertebral disc disease treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and location of recurrent thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion (T-L IVDE) after hemilaminectomy with prophylactic fenestration (PF) and to document PF-related complications. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SAMPLE POPULATION: Chondrodystrophic dogs (n = 793). METHODS: In 662 successfully recovered dogs (>1 year follow-up), the prevalence of dogs with recurrent T-L IVDE that required a 2nd surgery and dogs with clinical signs that improved without surgery was evaluated. Prevalence of second disc extrusions (SDEs) within T11-L4 intervertebral discs was compared between PF discs and non-PF discs. RESULTS: T-L SDEs were intraoperatively confirmed in 15 dogs (2.3%), 2-61 months after initial surgery and 66 dogs (10.0%) had signs of T-L IVDE recurrence that improved without surgery (mean follow-up, 44.7 months). No dog had further extrusion at the initial T-L site. SDE occurred at a PF disc (n = 1), adjacent to PF discs (8), or at distant discs (6). Prevalence of SDE in non-PF discs was 26.2 times higher than PF discs (95% CI: 3.4, 203.4; P < .001). Major PF-related complications included iatrogenic introduction of the disc material into the spinal canal (n = 1), and vertebral subluxation/instability (3) at 1-88 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: SDE is more likely to occur at non-PF discs than PF discs when PF is performed at spaces predisposed to disc extrusion. PF is a safe and effective treatment to prevent SDE in chondrodystrophic dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22380868/