Reevaluation of Predictive Factors for Complete Recovery in Dogs With Nonambulatory Tetraparesis Secondary to Cervical Disk Herniation

Abstract

The vast majority of dogs with cervical disk herniation experience cervical pain and only mild motor deficits; therefore, not much is known about the factors that predict recovery in dogs with nonambulatory tetraparesis (NAT) secondary to cervical disk herniation. In this retrospective study, we tested the hypothesis that two previously reported prognostic factors, site of disk herniation and severity of neurological deficits, are useful predictors of complete recovery. Overall, 20 (62%) of 32 dogs with cervical disk herniation-associated NAT had complete recovery. Site of disk herniation was not a significant predictor of complete recovery; dogs with high cervical lesions (C2 to C3, C3 to C4) did not have a higher likelihood of complete recovery than other dogs. Likewise, severity of neurological deficits (i.e., intact voluntary motor function versus absent voluntary motor function) was not a significant predictor of complete recovery. Using stepwise logistic regression, two significant predictors of complete recovery were identified. Small dogs (delta15 kg body weight) were six times more likely to achieve complete recovery than larger dogs. Dogs that regained the ability to walk within 96 hours after surgery were seven times more likely to completely recover than dogs not walking 96 hours after surgery. We conclude that neither the site of disk herniation nor severity of neurological deficits assists the clinician in predicting postoperative outcome in dogs with cervical disk herniation-associated NAT. Reliable preoperative predictors of complete recovery are needed to advance current diagnostic and treatment protocols to improve overall prognosis.

Differences in Epidural Pathology between Cervical and Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disk Extrusions in Dogs

“…In accordance with previous studies, dachshunds (28.5%) were overrepresented in the group with thoracolumbar IVD extrusion . Although the beagle and dachshund have been reported to be most frequently affected by cervical IVD extrusion, French bulldogs (29%) were in our group of dogs with cervical IVD extrusion. Dachshunds and French bulldogs are common but are not among the 20 most frequent breeds in Switzerland, and they were not overrepresented in the hospital population (2.5% and 1.3%, respectively).…”

Non‐ambulatory dogs with cervical intervertebral disc herniation: single versus multiple ventral slot decompression

“…In two large retrospective studies on VSD, the number of dogs that underwent multiple ventral slot decompression (MVSD) was 2/112 and 8/546, respectively . A study focused on non‐ambulatory dogs affected by cervical IVDH found that one out of 32 dogs had a disc herniation at two sites and underwent dorsal laminectomy . In another study involving small‐breed dogs that suffered from cervical IVDH and underwent surgery, 253 discs were affected in 187 dogs but the surgical technique used was not specified .…”

Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of compressive cervical myelopathy with traumatic intervertebral disc herniation in cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis)

“…In dogs, 83.6% of SCI is associated with IVDH, located in the thoracolumbar region between T10 and L7 [17]. Among all dogs with cervical disc herniation, the most commonly affected IVD spaces are represented at C5-C6 and C6-C7 [1819]. In nonhuman primates, the experimentally induced SCI model has been reported, but acute cervical SCI associated IVDH has not been reported.…”