Effect of durotomy on functional outcome of dogs with type I thoracolumbar disc extrusion and absent deep pain perception

C. A. Loughin; C. W. Dewey; P. B. Ringwood; R. W. Pettigrew; M. Kent; S. C. Budsberg

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1632953

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2005; 18(03): 141-146
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1632953

Clinical Communication

Schattauer GmbH

Effect of durotomy on functional outcome of dogs with type I thoracolumbar disc extrusion and absent deep pain perception

C. A. Loughin

¹Department of Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, New York, USA

,

C. W. Dewey

¹Department of Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, New York, USA

,

P. B. Ringwood

¹Department of Surgery, Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, New York, USA

,

R. W. Pettigrew

²Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

,

M. Kent

²Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

,

S. C. Budsberg

²Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Spinal cord durotomy is performed as a diagnostic aid in determining spinal cord structural integrity, and this may be useful as an indicator of prognosis in cases with loss of deep pain perception (DPP). It has been suggested that a durotomy may relieve intramedullary compression but there is some debate about the therapeutic value. The purpose of this study was to compare ambulatory outcome of dogs that had loss of DPP treated with hemilaminectomy with durotomy versus hemilaminectomy without durotomy. Medical records of 81 dogs diagnosed with type I thoracolumbar IVD were reviewed. Dogs were included in the study if DPP was absent upon initial neurological examination and surgical decompression via hemilaminectomy was performed. Of the 81 cases, 48 were included in this study. The number of dogs that recovered ambulatory function were compared between durotomy and nondurotomy groups with a chi-squared test (p<0.05). No differences were found. The findings of this study suggest that durotomy is useful as a diagnostic modality and that performing a durotomy does not significantly affect post-operative recovery of voluntary motor function.

Keywords

Durotomy - deep pain perception - hemilaminectomy - thoracolumbar

Full Text

References

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