Summary
A four-year-old male Dachshund was presented with pelvic limb paresis due to inter-vertebral
disc extrusion. The spine was surgically explored and decompressed by a bilateral
mini-hemilaminectomy and intervertebral disc fenestration at T12–13, and a bilateral
pediculectomy of T13. Five days postoperatively, the dog deteriorated because of T13
dorsal laminar subluxation and secondary spinal cord compression. This was surgically
investigated and stabilised using bilateral articular facet positional screws and
a dorsal spinal plate; the dog subsequently recovered well. Clinically significant
spinal instability associated with mini-hemilaminectomy and pediculectomy surgery
has not been reported previously.
Keywords
Spine - instability - mini-hemilaminectomy - pediculectomy - complication