Possible case of prefixed brachial plexus in a dog with a caudal cervical intervertebral disc extrusion

Abstract

A 5‐year‐old, entire, male dachshund was referred with a 7‐day history of non‐ambulatory paraparesis. The neurological examination was most consistent with a T3–L3 myelopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography studies of the cervical, cervicothoracic and thoracolumbar regions revealed a C7–T1 intervertebral disc extrusion causing moderate spinal cord compression. Based on the clinical presentation and imaging findings, a presumptive diagnosis of intervertebral disc extrusion in a dog affected by suspected prefixed brachial plexus was made. The dog underwent a ventral slot decompressive surgery, and its neurological conditions improved shortly after. The discrepancy between neuroanatomical localisation and location of an intervertebral disc extrusion may represent a possible instance of prefixed brachial plexus. To the authors’ best knowledge, prefixed brachial plexus has not been reported in dogs to date.