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Influence of Intervertebral Disc Fenestration at the Herniation Site in Association with Hemilaminectomy on Recurrence in Chondrodystrophic Dogs with Thoracolumbar Disc Disease: A Prospective MRI Study
Author(s) -
FORTERRE FRANCK,
KONAR MARTIN,
SPRENG DAVID,
JAGGY ANDRE,
LANG JOHANN
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2008.00394.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fenestration , intervertebral disc , disc herniation , surgery , magnetic resonance imaging , hernia , degenerative disc disease , radiology , lumbar
Objective— To describe the influence of fenestration at the disc herniation site on recurrence in thoracolumbar disc disease of chondrodystrophoid dogs. Study Design— Prospective clinical study. Animals— Chondrodystrophic dogs (n=19). Methods— Dogs were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (9 dogs) had thoracolumbar disc extrusion (Hansen type I) treated by hemilaminectomy and concomitant fenestration of the affected intervertebral disc and group 2 (10 dogs) had hemilaminectomy without fenestration. All dogs had 3 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations: preoperatively, immediately postoperatively to assess removal of herniated disc material, and again 6 weeks after surgery. Results— There were 13 male and 6 female dogs; mean age, 7.1 years. Thoracolumbar disc herniation was confirmed with MRI. Immediate post surgical MRI revealed that the herniated disc removal was complete in all but 1 dog and that fenestration did not lead to complete removal of nucleus pulposus within the intervertebral disc space. On the 3rd MRI examination, none of the group 1 dogs had further disc material herniation at the fenestrated site. Six of the 10 group 2 dogs had a recurrence of herniation leading to clinical signs in 3 dogs (pain in 2 dogs, paresis in 1 dog). Conclusion— In thoracolumbar disc herniation, fenestration of the affected intervertebral disc space prevents further extrusion of disc material. Clinical Relevance— Fenestration reduces the risk of early recurrence of disc herniation and associated postoperative complications.