Wobbler Syndrome and Spinal Cord Tumors

Question 1

which surgical system for wobbler in dogs is best?

Answer 1

spacer and plate system

Question 2

which breeds are predisposed to lateral and dorso-lateral compression?

Answer 2

great dane
mastiff
german shepherd dog
st bernard
bernese mountain dog

Question 3

how old are dogs with lateral and dorso-lateral compression usually?

Answer 3

1-5 years

Question 4

how can you treat dorsal arch malformations?

Answer 4

dorsal laminectomy

Question 5

who usually gets vertebral malformations?

Answer 5

great dane, less than a year old

Question 6

what does the interaction between the spinous process and dorrsal lamina result in?

Answer 6

proliferation of fibrocartilaginous tissue
formation of pseudoarthrosis

Question 7

how are spinal cord tumors classified?

Answer 7

by location

Question 8

what is the most common type of spinal cord tumor?

Answer 8

nerve sheath tumor: extradural

Question 9

what percentage of spinal cord tumors are extradural?

Answer 9

60-65%

Question 10

what is the mean survival time for surgery alone treatment of canine spinal meningioma?

Answer 10

19 months

Question 11

what are some types of chronic cord compression/wobbler syndrome?

Answer 11

dorsal arch malformation
degenerative bone and soft tissues proliferation in dorsal joints
hypertrophy of dorsal annulus with disc protrusion
vertebral malformation

Question 12

what are the primary abnormalities with disc associated wobbler syndrome?

Answer 12

type II disk protrusion/extrusion
vertebral canal stenosis

Question 13

what breeds usually have disc associated wobbler syndrome?

Answer 13

doberman
rottweiler, german shepherd, mastiff, labrador retriever, weimaraner, dalmation

Question 14

where are ventral compressions mainly with disc associated wobbler syndrome?

Answer 14

C6-7
C5-6

Question 15

what are the treatment options for disc associated wobbler syndrome?

Answer 15

medical management
artificial disc
ventral slot procedure
distraction and stabilization

Question 16

which treatment option for disc associated wobbler syndrome has the best outcome?

Answer 16

spacer and plate system
good short term outcome

Question 17

how common are compressions at multiple levels with lateral and dorso-lateral compression?

Answer 17

80%

Question 18

what is the surgical option for lateral and dorso-lateral compression?

Answer 18

dorsal laminectomy

Question 19

what is the medical management for dorso-lateral compression?

Answer 19

exercise restriction
prednisone needed
pain management

Question 20

is there neurological improvement for medical management of dorso-lateral compression?

Answer 20

not often

Question 21

what percentage of dogs after dorso-lateral compression surgery get worse?

Answer 21

10%
27% also relapse

Question 22

can dorsal arch malformations be static or dynamic?

Answer 22

yes

Question 23

what breeds are predisposed to dorsal arch malformations?

Answer 23

great dane most common
german shepherd dog
labrador retriever
bernese mountain dog

Question 24

where are dorsal arch malformations most common?

Answer 24

C4/5
C5/6
less: C3/4
multilevel 50% of dogs

Question 25

what are the dorsal arch malformations?

Answer 25

dorsal provess tilted cranially overlap with dorsal lamina of cranial vertebra

Question 26

what does interaction between the spinous process and thee dorsal lamina result in in dorsal arch malformations?

Answer 26

proliferation of fibrocartilaginous tissue formation of pseudoarthrosis

Question 27

how can dorsal arch malformation be diagnosed on histopathology?

Answer 27

cartilaginous proliferation and degeneration synovial ulceration villus hypertrophy

Question 28

how is the outcome with dorsal arch malformations treated with dorsal laminectomy?

Answer 28

very good transient worsening due to tissue swelling 33%

Question 29

how can you treat vertebral malformations?

Answer 29

ventral stabilization plates and screws

Question 30

what are some subtypes of wobbler?

Answer 30

disc associated wobbler syndrome dorso-lateral compressions dorsal compressions vertebral tipping

Question 31

what tumors are the most common after nerve sheath tumors?

Answer 31

myxoma/myxosarcoma osteosarcoma

Question 32

what is the breakdown of localization of tumors in the spinal cord?

Answer 32

C1-T2 30-40% T3-L3 40-46% L4-S1 20-24%

Question 33

what percentage of tumors are intramedullary?

Answer 33

3-5%

Question 34

does tumor type, location, primary/metastatic, treatment make a difference in outcome with vertebral tumors?

Answer 34

no

Question 35

what is a predictive factor for vertebral tumors?

Answer 35

post operative neurological status

Question 36

what is the median survival time for canine spinal meningioma surgery and radiation?

Answer 36

45 months

Question 37

which spinal cord tumors have the best outcome?

Answer 37

spinal meningiomas