Sixty-four dogs with caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy (CCSM) caused by chronic degenerative disc disease were treated with ventral decompression (n = 20), linear traction and interbody screw stabilization (n = 7), or linear traction and plastic plate stabilization (n = 37). Interbody screw stabilization was ineffective in treating CCSM because of an unacceptably high rate of implant failures. Ventral decompression or linear traction and plastic plate stabilization were effective in the treatment of most patients with mild to moderate neurologic deficits (neck pain, paraparesis, or ambulatory tetraparesis). Although these techniques were also used successfully in some patients with severe neurologic deficits (weakly ambulatory tetraparesis or nonambulatory tetraparesis), variable success rates and prolonged postoperative recovery periods were noted.

Bilateral stifle joint radiography should be performed for all dogs with CrCL rupture. Bilateral stifle joint arthroscopy should be considered for dogs with a contralateral fat pad sign.

An open patch-graft technique for correction of pulmonic stenosis was performed in four dogs. A synthetic patch-graft was presutured to a partial-thickness incision in the right ventricular outflow tract and to the pulmonary artery along its cranial border. The pulmonary artery and right ventricle were incised during venous inflow occlusion, and dysplastic pulmonic valve leaflets were excised. The arteriotomy was closed by suturing the caudal margin of the incision to the patch-graft. The entire procedure was performed during mild hypothermia (30 degrees - 32 degrees C). The mean circulatory arrest time was 5.5 +/- 0.2 minutes. The mean systolic pressure gradient across the pulmonic valve before surgery was 121 +/- 29 mm Hg; after surgery it was 9 +/- 2 mm Hg.

No abstract

Thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion is a common disease in dogs. Surgical decompression of the spinal cord is the preferred treatment. Localization of the compressive material is critical for surgical planning. Myelography has been used for localizing extruded disc material, but this procedure carries risk of complications. Computed tomography (CT) is becoming more available for use in veterinary medicine and CT myelography is used for localization of extruded disc material. This report compares CT with intravenous contrast medium and CT myelography for identifying extruded intervertebral discs. CT with intravenous contrast medium is as effective as CT myelography for determining level and laterality of compressive disc extrusions.