Treatment of 10 dogs with discospondylitis by fluoroscopy‐guided percutaneous discectomy

Abstract

Ten dogs suffering from discospondylitis were treated by percutaneous discectomy and local and systemic antibiotic therapy. With fluoroscopic guidance, a cylinder 5 mm in diameter was removed from the centre of the intervertebral space, yielding a fenestration and decompressing the disc without producing any spinal instability. The causative bacteria were identified in nine of the 10 biopsy specimens, but in only three urine cultures and four blood cultures. In two cases, the antibiotics used initially had to be changed owing to the organisms' antibiotic resistance. The clinical signs of the dogs improved markedly after two to nine days (mean 4.2 days) and had resolved completely after five to 14 days (mean 9.1 days). In all the cases the disease could be classified histologically as either acute or chronic, and the disease was classified as chronic in one dog. No side effects were observed.

Paraparesis in an Adult Alpaca with Discospondylitis

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Discospondylitis can be caused by local bacterial infection after hematogenous spread of organisms from infected sites elsewhere in the body, e.g., after direct injury to a vertebral endplate or intervertebral disc causing vascular disruption and increased susceptibility to infection. The infectious process starts either in the vertebral body or in the intervertebral disc, with subsequent spreading to the adjacent tissue.…”

“…Samples for bacterial culture may be obtained from the affected disc spaces by fluoroscopically guided needle or surgical aspiration. 12,15,24 Because the isolated organism in small animals is usually a Staphylococcus spp., cephalosporins or beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins are often effective. Antibiotic therapy is typically required for several months to eliminate the infection, and relapses are common despite long-term treatment.…”

“…15,20 Lesions are curetted, and necrotic bone and disc material is harvested for bacterial and fungal cultures. Surgical stabilization of the vertebrae may be necessary after decompression.…”

“…Surgical intervention in small animals with discospondylitis is required when no response to initial medical therapy occurs, if evidence of spinal cord compression is present, or if the animal shows severe and progressive neurologic deficits. 15,20 Lesions are curetted, and necrotic bone and disc material is harvested for bacterial and fungal cultures. Surgical stabilization of the vertebrae may be necessary after decompression.…”

Successful medical treatment of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae‐ induced lumbosacral diskospondylitis in a dog

“…Diskospondylitis is an infection of the intervertebral disc that spreads through both endplates and proceeds slowly into the two contiguous vertebrae (Gilmore 1987). Although any intervertebral disc space may be affected, the lower cervical, the midthoracic, the thoracolumbar and the lumbosacral disks are more often involved in dogs (Kornegay and Barber 1980, Gilmore 1987, Burkert and others 2005 and others 2005, Kinzel and others 2005). Clinical signs range widely from pain alone to non‐ambulatory para‐ or tetraparesis, either flaccid or spastic, depending upon the localisation of the inflammatory and compressive process (Kornegay and Barber 1980, Betbeze and McLaughlin 2002, Burkert and others 2005 and others 2005).…”