Imaging Findings in Dogs With Caudal Intervertebral Disc Herniation

Abstract

The radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for four dogs with herniation of the Cd1-Cd2 intervertebral disc are described. All dogs were 7 years of age at the time of presentation, with one neutered male and three neutered females. Breeds included one Beagle, one Bassett hound, and two large, mixed breed dogs. All dogs had tail pain on manipulation, two had pain during defecation, and two maintained an abnormal tail position. Three dogs had radiographs in which mineralization within the disc space was apparent. Two of these dogs also had mineralization within the vertebral canal. Three dogs underwent MRI, which was characterized by varying degrees of disc herniation and nerve root compression at Cd1-Cd2. Mobility may be a factor predisposing to disc herniation in the cranial aspect of the caudal spine. We documented that caudal disc herniation does occur occasionally in dogs and that radiography and MRI may be used to identify this disease. Caudal intervertebral disc herniation should be considered as a differential for dogs with caudal vertebral pain, pain with tail manipulation, pain during defecation, or abnormal tail carriage.

Congenital and acquired anomalies of the caudal vertebrae in dogs: Radiographic classification and prevalence evaluation

“…The Manx breed is among the most commonly affected, due to stumpy tail deformation or complete taillessness (Deforest and Basrur, 1979). Intervertebral disc protrusion or extrusion at the Cd1-Cd2 disk space has been described in four dogs (Lawson et al, 2011). Caudal intervertebral disk herniation should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with caudal vertebral pain, pain on tail manipulation, pain during defecation, or abnormal tail carriage (Lawson et al, 2011).…”

Extrusão de disco intervertebral caudal (coccígea) em um Basset Hound: primeiro relato de caso

“…A patogênese do processo degenerativo é provavelmente similar à degeneração ocorrida nos discos das regiões cervical e toracolombar, entretanto nenhum estudo realizou as análises histológicas do material do disco intervertebral extrudido (Akin et al, 2011;Lawson et al, 2011;Potanas et al, 2012;Vicente et al, 2012).…”

“…O diagnóstico presuntivo de doença do disco intervertebral foi realizado inicialmente com base no histórico clínico, no exame neurológico e nos achados radiográficos. No cão do presente relato, a extrusão discal ocorreu entre Ca4-Ca5, diferente dos sete casos relatados até o presente momento, em que todos os cães apresentavam extrusão discal entre Ca1-Ca2 (Akin et al, 2011;Lawson et al, 2011;Potanas et al, 2012;Vicente et al, 2012). Além disso, todos os relatos descritos mencionaram a presença de pelo…”

“…Jensen et al (2008) Pelo maior estreitamento do canal vertebral das vértebras coccígeas em relação às outras regiões da coluna vertebral e da quantidade de material, o conteúdo do núcleo pulposo extrudido tende a se localizar mais lateralizado e se alojar no forame intervertebral, comprimindo as raízes nervosas (Lawson et al, 2011), o que explica a intensa dor observada na paciente do presente relato.…”

Surgical management of a coccygeal intervertebral discal hernia in a dog

“…Surgical techniques previously described for management of central or lateralised intervertebral disc disease in thoracolumbar and lumbosacral locations include disc fenestration, haemilaminectomy, mini haemilaminectomy or pediculectomy, lateral corpectomy and foraminotomy (Redding 1951, Olsson 1951, Braund and others 1976, Bitetto and Thacher 1987, Schulman and Lippincott 1987, Jeffery 1988, Scott 1997, Moissonnier and others 2004). The surgical techniques which have been previously described for management of caudal intervertebral disc disease include: dorsal laminectomies, in four cases (Freeman 2010, Akin and others 2011, Lawson and others 2011, Potanas and others 2012), and a left-sided foraminotomy in one case (de Vicente and others 2012). All of them led to rapid and successful outcomes in terms of tail function and restoration of comfort.…”