Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of dogs undergoing a hemilaminectomy
with anulectomy (HA) or a hemilaminectomy with partial discectomy (HPD) for treatment
of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc protrusion.
Methods Medical records from 2006 to 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs were included
if they had clinical signs and imaging findings consistent with thoracolumbar intervertebral
disc protrusion and had undergone surgical treatment with a HA or HPD. Outcome data
were obtained via veterinary records and owner questionnaires. Recorded variables
included age, sex, body weight, neurological deficits, surgical time, perioperative
complications, postoperative neurological deterioration and recurrence of clinical
signs.
Results The two treatment groups showed no significant difference in signalment, clinical
presentation and imaging findings. However, significant differences were detected
in outcome. Early postoperative neurological deterioration was recorded in 16/29 dogs
in the HA group and 7/24 dogs in the HPD group (p = 0.037). Sustained clinical improvement for a minimum of 18 months postoperatively
was reported in 9/22 dogs in the HA group compared with 17/23 dogs in the HPD group
(p = 0.019).
Clinical Significance Hemilaminectomy with partial discectomy for decompression of thoracolumbar intervertebral
disc protrusion was associated with decreased postoperative neurological deterioration
and increased sustained clinical improvement compared with hemilaminectomy with anulectomy.
Keywords
intervertebral disc protrusion - hemilaminectomy with partial discectomy - hemilaminectomy
with anulectomy - outcome
