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- Title
Intradural vertebral disc herniation in a dog.
- Authors
Poncelet, L.; Heimann, M.
- Abstract
Context In dogs, sudden-onset paraplegia with signs indicating a spinal cord lesion close to the thoracolumbar junction is a frequent presentation. If there is no history of trauma, fibrocartilaginous thromboembolism and intervertebral disc extrusion are the most likely causes and can be differentiated by imaging. One single case of intradural disc herniation has been reported in a dog; however, this animal was euthanased. In human beings, intradural disc herniation is a rare condition that comprises 0.27 per cent of all disc herniations. This report describes the diagnosis and successful surgical treatment of intradural disc herniation in a dog. Main conclusion Extrusion of disc material should be considered when investigating an intradural, extramedullary mass in paraplegic dogs. Approach and results A 13-year-old male miniature schnauzer was presented with acute paraplegia of two days' duration with pain perception preserved. The signs pointed towards spinal cord involvement in the thoracolumbar area. A myelogram revealed an intradural, extramedullary mass at the T13-L1 level. The typical 'golf tee' accumulation of contrast medium was recognised on both lateral and dorsoventral views. A mass approximately 3 x 6 mm in size, with a white, glistening, irregular surface was surgically removed through a hemilaminectomy and durotomy. The dog rapidly improved after surgery. Interpretation Histopathological examination revealed degenerated cartilage compatible with extruded disc material. Significance of findings This report demonstrates that for intradural disc extrusion, surgical treatment may be straightforward and may carry as good a prognosis as the classical epidural disc extrusions with similar clinical severity.
- Subjects
DOGS; HERNIA; PARAPLEGIA; LEG diseases; SPINAL cord; INTERVERTEBRAL disk
- Publication
Veterinary Record: Journal of the British Veterinary Association, 2011, Vol 168, Issue 18, p485
- ISSN
0042-4900
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1136/vr.c6740