Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery for dogs with degenerative lower back narrowing
By Danielsson, Fredrik & Sjöström, Lennart·Published in Veterinary Surgery·1999·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Surgical Treatment of Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis in Dogs
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs, mostly German shepherds, were brought in for pain and reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or get up after lying down, which are signs of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS). The dogs underwent surgery to relieve pressure on their spinal nerves, and most showed significant improvement in their symptoms over the following months. About 93% of the dogs felt better after surgery, although some did experience a return of symptoms later on. Overall, the surgery was successful and helped many dogs return to their normal activities.
People also search for: dog back pain treatment · German shepherd lumbosacral stenosis · surgery for dog spinal problems
Abstract
Objective—To study the epidemiology, clinical findings, and long‐term outcome of surgical treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) in dogs.Study Design—Retrospective study.Sample Population—131 client‐owned dogs with DLSS.Methods—The medical records of dogs with DLSS treated by dorsal laminectomy and dorsal fenestration were reviewed. The clinical diagnosis had been verified by diskography, epidurography or myelography, or a combination thereof.Results—The German shepherd breed was over‐represented (56.5%), and males were more often affected than females (2:1). Historically, reluctance or pain when jumping, rising from a prone position, or climbing stairs (92.4%) and signs of pain or stiffness during extensive physical activity (85.5%) were the most frequent concerns. The most common physical and neurologic examination findings were pain in the lumbosacral area during hyperextension (97.7%) and on direct digital palpation (84.7%). A total of 93.2% of the dogs were improved clinically within the follow‐up period (mean 26 ± 17 months). Recurrence of clinical signs resembling DLSS was reported by the owner or diagnosed by clinical examination in 17.6% of the dogs with a mean onset of signs at 18 ± 13 months postoperatively.Conclusions—Surgical treatment of DLSS with dorsal laminectomy and fenestration generally resulted in good to excellent clinical outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1053/jvet.1999.0091