Neurology Resident Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Abstract: Background – The minimally invasive surgical (MIS) technique may be a viable alternative to the standard open approach hemilaminectomy; however, there are no prospective clinical studies that evaluate this technique in small-breed dogs with naturally occurring intervertebral disc extrusions (IVDE) in the thoracolumbar region.
Objectives – The objective was to evaluate the use of a MIS approach to perform hemilaminectomies in chondrodystrophic dogs with IVDE. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the degree of soft tissue trauma using the MIS procedure compared to the standard open approach.
Animals – Eight client-owned dogs presented to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with acute onset thoracolumbar IVDE were included in this study.
Methods – This was a prospective, randomized case-series. Patients were assigned to undergo an MIS (group 1; n=4) or a standard open approach (group 2; n=4) for a hemilaminectomy. A post-operative MRI was performed in all cases.
Results – Conversion to an open approach was not necessary for any case in group 1. All cases had adequate spinal cord decompression on post-operative MRI. There was no significant difference in soft tissue changes noted on post-operative MRI between the two groups.
Conclusions and clinical importance – The MIS approach to hemilaminectomies in dogs with IVDE can successfully be performed to decompress the neural tissue and appears to have similar clinical outcomes in the early postoperative period compared to the open approach. Larger studies are needed to determine potential advantages of the MIS technique compared to the standard approach in veterinary medicine.
