Cauda equina syndrome treated by lumbosacral stabilisation in a cat

M. P. Cariou; C. K. Störk; A. F. Petite; R. M. Rayward

doi:10.3415/VCOT-07-08-0083

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21(05): 462-466
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-07-08-0083

Case Report

Schattauer GmbH

Cauda equina syndrome treated by lumbosacral stabilisation in a cat

Authors

M. P. Cariou

¹Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, UK
C. K. Störk

¹Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, UK
A. F. Petite

¹Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, UK
R. M. Rayward

¹Davies Veterinary Specialists, Manor Farm Business Park, Higham Gobion, UK

Abstract

Summary

In this case report, a case of cauda equina syndrome arising from lumbosacral disease in an eight-year-old Burmese cat is described. The cat had a history of chronic right pelvic limb lameness. Neurological evaluation was consistent with a lesion involving the cauda equina. Radiographic findings were consistent with a diagnosis of lumbosacral disease. Due to perceived dorsoventral lumbosacral instability, dorsal decompression and stabilisation of the lumbosacral junction was performed. An original method of spinal stabilisation for this indication is described. The cat had a successful long-term outcome with complete resolution of its presenting clinical signs.

Keywords

Cauda equina syndrome - lumbosacral instability - lumbosacral stabilisation - polymethylmethacrylate - feline

Full Text

References

References
1 Slocum B, Devine T. L7-S1 fixation-fusion for treatment of cauda equina compression in the dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1986; 188: 31-35.
2 Goh KJ, Khalifa W, Anslow P. et al. The clinical syndrome associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. Eur Neurol 2004; 52: 242-249.
3 De Risio L, Sharp NJ, Olby NJ. et al. Predictors of outcome after dorsal decompressive laminectomy for degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs: 69 cases (1987-1997). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001; 219: 624-628.
4 Danielsson F, Sjostrom L. Surgical treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs. Vet Surg 1999; 28: 91-98.
5 De Risio L, Thomas WB, Sharp NJ. Degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. Vet Clin North Am 2000; 30: 111-132.
6 Ferguson HR. Conditions of the lumbosacral spinal cord and cauda equina. Semin Vet Med Surg (Sm Anim) 1996; 11: 254-258.
7 Linn LL, Bartels KE, Rochat MC. et al. Lumbosacral stenosis in 29 military working dogs: epidemiologic findings and outcome after surgical intervention (1990-1999). Vet Surg 2003; 32: 21-29.
8 Mayhew PD, Kapatkin AS, Wortman JA. et al. Association of cauda equina compression on magnetic resonance images and clinical signs in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2002; 38: 555-562.
9 Sjostrom L. Degenerative lumbosacral stenosis: surgical decompression.. In: Textbook of Small Animal Surgery. Slatter DH: Saunders; 2002: 1227-1237.
10 Thrall DE. Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology.. 4th ed. Philadelphia: WB. Saunders; 2002. .
11 Kealy JK, McAllister H. Diagnostic radiology and ultrasonography of the dog and cat.. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2005. .
12 Piermattei DJ, Johnson KA. An atlas of surgical approaches to bones and joints of dogs and cats.. 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders; 2006. .
13 Beaver DP, MacPherson GC, Muir P. et al. Methylmethacrylate and bone screw repair of seventh lumbar vertebral fracture-luxations in dogs. J Small Anim Pract 1996; 37: 381-386.
14 Sharp N, Wheeler SJ. Small Animal Spinal Disorders: Diagnosis and Surgery.. 2nd ed. Edinburgh; New York: Elsevier Mosby; 2005. .
15 Munana KR, Olby NJ, Sharp NJ. et al. Intervertebral disk disease in 10 cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2001; 37: 384-389.
16 Rayward RM. Feline intervertebral disc disease. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2002; 15: 137-144.
17 King AS, Smith RN. Disc protrusions in the cat: distribution of dorsal protrusions along the vertebral column. Vet Record 1960; 72: 335-337.
18 Hardie EM, Roe SC, Martin FR. Radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease in geriatric cats: 100 cases (1994-1997). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220: 628-632.
19 Morgan JP. Disagrees with characterization of degenerative joint disease in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220: 1454-1456.
20 Kolmstetter C, Munson L, Ramsay EC. Degenerative spinal disease in large felids. J Zoo Wildl Med 2000; 31: 15-19.
21 Asperio RM, Marzola P, Zibellini E. et al. Use of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis of a spinal tumor in a cat. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 1999; 40: 267-270.
22 Lu D, Lamb CR, Wesselingh K. et al. Acute intervertebral disc extrusion in a cat: clinical and MRI findings. J Feline Med Surg 2002; 4: 65-68.
23 Lujan A, Philbey AW, Anderson TJ. Intradural epithelial cyst in a cat. Vet Record 2003; 153: 363-364.
24 Mikszewski JS, Van Winkle TJ, Troxel MT. Fibrocartilagenous embolic myelopathy in five cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2006; 42: 226-233.
25 MacKay AD, Rusbridge C, Sparkes AH. et al. MRI characteristics of suspected acute spinal cord infarction in two cats, and a review of the literature. J Feline Med Surg 2005; 7: 101-107.
26 Jones JC, Banfield CM, Ward DL. Association between postoperative outcome and results of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in working dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 216: 1769-1774.
27 Suwankong N, Voorhout G, Hazewinkel HA. et al. Agreement between computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and surgical findings in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006; 229: 1924-1929.
28 Slocum B, Devine T. Optimal treatment for degenerative lumbosacral stenosis: traction, internal fixation and fusion. Vet Med Report 1989; 1: 249-257.
29 McKee WM. Spinal trauma in dogs and cats: are view of 51 cases. Vet Rec 1990; 126: 285-289.
30 Voss K, Steffen F, Montavon PM. Use of the ComPact UniLock System for ventral stabilization procedures of the cervical spine: a retrospective study. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2006; 19: 21-28.
31 Besalti O, Ozak A, Tong S. Management of spinal trauma in 69 cats. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2002; 109: 315-320.
32 Voss K, Montavon PM. Tension band stabilization of fractures and luxations of the thoracolumbar vertebrae in dogs and cats: 38 cases (1993-2002). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004; 225: 78-83.
33 Ullman SL, Boudrieau RJ. Internal skeletal fixation using a Kirschner apparatus for stabilization of fracture/luxations of the lumbosacral joint in six dogs. Amodification of the transilial pin technique. Vet Surg 1993; 22: 11-17.
34 Auger J, Dupuis J, Quesnel A. et al. Surgical treatment of lumbosacral instability caused by discospondylitis in four dogs. Vet Surg 2000; 29: 70-80.
35 Meheust P. Une nouvelle technique de stabilisation lombosacrée: l’arthrodèse par visage pédiculaire, étude clinique de 5 cas. Prat Méd Chir Anim Comp 2000; 35: 201-207.
36 Blass CE, Seim HB. Spinal fixation for dogs using Steinmann pins andmethylmethacrylate. Vet Surg 1984; 13: 203-210.
37 Turan A, KaramanlioĞlu B, MemiŞ D. et al. Analgesic effects of gabapentin after spinal surgery. Anesthesiology 2004; 100: 935-938.
38 Turan A, White PF, Karamanlioglu B. et al. Gabapentin: an alternative to the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors for perioperative pain management. Anesth Analg 2006; 102: 175-181.