Lumbosacral

Question 1

What is cauda equina syndrome?

Answer 1

Neuro signs caused by compression of cauda equina nerve roots

Question 2

What is the pathophysiology of cauda equina?

Answer 2

From canal stenosis, intervertebral foramen stenosis or abnormal articulation of joint.
Caused by any compression or displacement or destruction of nerve roots

Question 3

What are DD’s of cauda equina syndrome?

Answer 3

Prostatitis
Hip dysplasia
Degenerative myelopathy
Spondylolisthesis 
Discospondylitis
Fibrocartilaginous embolic

Question 4

What is the clinical presentation of discospondylitis?

Answer 4

Large breed dogs with arched back, stitled gait, pyrexia, anorexia, depression & weight loss.

Question 5

Define spondylolisthesis.

Answer 5

Spondylosis deformans.
Non inflammatory disease where bony spurs form around disc. Get bony bridge forming to establish stability.
All dogs & cats if they live long enough.
Mostly asymptomatic.

Question 6

What patients get vertebral osteophyte formation?

Answer 6

Disk fenestrations

Healed vertebral fracture & luxation.

Question 7

How do we treat cauda equina syndrome?

Answer 7

Dorsal laminectomy 
Dorsal-ventral manipulation 
Foraminotomy 
Facetectomy 
Dorsal fenestration of bulging disc & annulus fibrosus

Question 8

What post op care do we do caudal equina syndome?

Answer 8

Cage confinement
NSAIDs
Manually empty bladder
Gradual exercise return (eg. swimming)

Question 9

What is the pathophysiology of discospondylitis?

Answer 9

Blood infection
Retrograde spread
Direct spread (foreign body, penetrating injury)

Question 10

What are some DD’s for discosponylitis?

Answer 10

Prostatitis
Renal disease
Urethral calculi

Question 11

How do you treat discospondylitis?

Answer 11

Microbiological diagnosis (blood, urine, US guided FNA) 
Usually S. aureus.