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Postoperative symptomatic haematoma and pneumorrhachis in a dog with a thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion
Author(s) -
Cornelis I,
Monticelli P,
De Decker S
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/avj.12524
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , spinal cord compression , spinal surgery , intervertebral disc , spinal cord , decompression , laminectomy , psychiatry
Case report A 6‐year‐old male neutered crossbreed dog presented with acute onset paraparesis and was diagnosed with an L1–L2 intervertebral disc extrusion. A right‐sided T13–L2 hemilaminectomy was performed. However, the dog deteriorated and became paraplegic with marked thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia 48 h after surgery. A computed tomography scan of the thoracolumbar vertebral column revealed the presence of pneumorrhachis ( PR ) at the level of T13 , possibly embedded in a haematoma, and causing marked spinal cord compression. Revision surgery confirmed the presence of a haematoma, which was removed. The dog gradually improved and was neurologically normal 6 weeks after surgery. Conclusion Although PR is a rare condition, it may be considered a possible cause for early postoperative neurological deterioration in dogs undergoing decompressive spinal surgery. Surgical revision resulted in a good outcome in the presented case.