| Signalment |
Four year-old female spayed Dachshund |
| Chief Complaint |
Hind limb paralysis |
| Onset |
Yesterday |
| Course |
Dog was playing in yard during the day. That
night the dog began to arch its back and cry out. Later that
night the dog had trouble standing in the rear limbs. This morning
the dog was not able to walk. |
| Past Pertinent History |
None. Always healthy. |
| Physical Exam |
No significant findings |
| Neurologic Exam |
Non-ambulatory paraparalysis. The dog had increased
reflexes (3+), increased tone in the rear limbs, and had normal
deep pain perception. There was a T13-L1 sensory level. |
| Neuroanatomic Localization |
T3-L3 myelopathy |
| Differential Diagnosis |
Type 1 intervertebral disc extrusion. Other
differentials should be kept in the mind irrespective of the
breed such as fractures, discospondylitis/ osteomyelitis, hemorrhage,
cyst, and tumor. |
| Diagnostics |
CBC, chemistry panel, U/A were all normal |
| MRI |
Hypointense mass lesion ventral to the overlying
spinal cord at the level of L1-2 IVD space on the sagittal T2WI.
There is marked compression of the spinal cord at its ventral
aspect on the axial T2WI. This is consistent with marked, ventral
IVD protrusion at L1-2 IVD space. |
| Treatment |
Left lateral hemilaminectomy was performed
and a large amount of type 1 disc material was removed. |
| Outcome |
The dog improved incrementally after surgery
and was walking normal 1 month post-operatively. |
|
 |
Lumbar Spine – T2 sagittal image.
A large L1-2 intervertebral disc herniation is noted.
|
