Lumbosacral Disease

Question 1

De Decker, JAVMA, 2014:

1. What % of medically treated dogs subsequently underwent surgical treatment?
2. Did initial medical management affect results of subsequent surgical treatment?

Answer 1

De Decker, JAVMA, 2014:

1. 22% of medically treated dogs subsequently underwent surgical treatment
2. No

Question 2

Golini, Vet Surg, 2014:
Transarticular fixation combined with dorsal laminectomy and partial discectomy

1. What % showed clinical improvement?
2. Implant failure rate?
3. Was arthrodesis of the articular facets observed?

Answer 2

Golini, Vet Surg, 2014:

1. 76% showed clinical improvement
2. 30% implant failure rate - post-op residual mobility of the LS joint may explain the relatively high implant failure rate
3. Arthrodesis of articular facets was not observed in any dog

Question 3

Mackenzie, VRU, 2016:
Injected gelified ethanol into the LS disc

What % showed leakage of the injected material into the vertebral canal immediately after injection and at 1 year after injection?

Answer 3

Mackenzie, VRU, 2016:

33% showed leakage immediately after injection, 11% showed leakage at 1 year following injection

Question 4

Worth, Vet Surg, 2017:

1. Dorsal annulectomy combined with partial discectomy may lead to further dynamic collapse of the LS articulation - true or false?
2. What is a possible cause for persistent or recurrent clinical signs of L7 nerve root compression?

Answer 4

Worth, Vet Surg, 2017:

1. True
2. Subsequent loss of foraminal volume could further compromise the LS intervertebral foramina during extension, resulting in persistent or recurrent clinical signs of L7 nerve root compression

Question 5

Shaw, JVIM, 2017:

Negative prognostic factors for regaining ambulation?

Answer 5

Shaw, JVIM, 2017:

Absent conscious pain perception, large non-chondrodystrophic breeds

Question 6

Muller, Vet Surg, 2017:
Minimally invasive transilial vertebral blocking procedure:

1. Results of the procedure?
2. What % had a tense gait or stiffness while rising and sitting immediately post-op?

Answer 6

Muller, Vet Surg, 2017:

1. Clinical improvement and morphometric enlargement of the foraminal area
2. 19%

Question 7

Saunders, Vet Surg, 2018:

1. Was there an association between a greater rostral projection of the sacral lamina and a diagnosis of DLSS?
2. Is the height of the vertebral canal at L7/S1 diagnostic or predictive of DLSS?
3. Risk factor(s) for development of cauda equina syndrome?

Answer 7

Saunders, Vet Surg, 2018:

1. No association between greater rostral projection of the sacral lamina and DLSS
2. Height of the vertebral canal at L7/S1 was neither diagnostic nor predictive of DLSS
3. Dogs >5 years of age had a greater risk of developing cauda equina syndrome

Question 8

Zindl, Vet Surg, 2018:
Pedicle screw-rod fixation system

Effect(s) on motion at L7-S1 and L6-7?

Answer 8

Zindl, Vet Surg, 2018:

Significantly reduced primary and coupled motion at L7-S1 with a concomitant increase in motion at L6-7, which may suggest the potential for adjacent level effects

Question 9

Worth, VCOT, 2018:

1. Effect(s) of lateral foraminotomy on volume of the LS lateral intervertebral neurovascular foramen?
2. Regrowth of bone at the foraminotomy site occurred despite having excellent outcomes - true or false?
3. Increased foraminal volume was still evident at long-term follow-up, but in 33% of those dogs, what was the % increase in foraminal volume compared to pre-op?

Answer 9

Worth, VCOT, 2018:

1. Lateral foraminotomy increased the volume of the LS lateral intervertebral neurovascular foramen to >7 times its initial volume
2. True
3. In 33% of the dogs, the long-term increase in foraminal volume was only 125% of the pre-op volume