Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Thoracolumbar disc disease in large dogs: a study of 99 cases

2002; Wiley; Volume: 43; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1748-5827.2002.tb00010.x

1748-5827

C. Macías, W. M. McKee, Chris May, John Innes,

Shoulder Injury and Treatment

The records of 99 dogs weighing over 20 kg with thoracolumbar disc disease were reviewed. Two types of disc disease were recognised: degenerative nuclear extrusion (n=63) and degenerative annular protrusion (n=36). Sixty‐nine per cent of the affected discs were located between T12‐T13 and L2‐L3. Of the 63 dogs with degenerative nuclear extrusions, 35 were non‐ambulatory and seven had no conscious pain perception at the time of presentation. Decompressive surgery was performed in 55 dogs, four dogs were managed non‐surgically and three dogs were euthanased. A successful outcome was achieved in 49 (78 per cent) cases as assessed by the authors and in 53 (84 per cent) cases as assessed by the owners. Mean follow‐up time was 11·7 months (range 1·5 to 48 months). Five dogs subsequently lost the ability to ambulate on their hindlimbs. Myelographic investigations in three of these dogs revealed a second thoracolumbar degenerative nuclear extrusion. Of the 36 dogs with degenerative annular protrusions, seven were non‐ambulatory at the time of presentation. Fifteen cases had multiple protrusions. Twenty dogs were managed non‐surgically, 12 surgically and four were euthanased. A successful outcome was achieved in eight (22 per cent) cases as assessed by the authors and in 19 (52 per cent) cases as assessed by the owners. Mean follow‐up time was 9·2 months (range 1·5 to 30 months). The outcome of dogs with annular protrusions was significantly worse compared to the outcome of dogs with nuclear extrusions (P< 0 ·001).