Intervertebral disc disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of feline myelopathy. Animals of any age, breed or gender may be affected and onset of neurological dysfunction may be variable. The thoracolumbar junction and to a lesser extent the mid lumbar spine are the most commonly affected sites and Hansen type I disc extrusions predominate. Standard investigations (radiography, myelography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and surgical techniques (laminectomy, hemilaminectomy, fenestration, durotomy) may be employed. Although response to conservative treatment is variable, surgically treated cases generally respond favourably but neurological recovery may be incomplete. Following surgical intervention, a recurrence of clinically significant IVDD has not been reported.
Keywords
Cat -
intervertebral disc -
neurology
References
1
Bagley RS,
Tucker RL,
Moore MP,
Harrington ML.
Radiographic diagnosis: Intervertebral disc extrusion in a cat. Vet Radiol and Ultrasound 1995; 36: 380-2.
6
Davies JV,
Sharp JH.
A comparison of conservative treatment and fenestration for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1983; 24: 721-9.
13
Kathmann I,
Cizinauskas S,
Rytz U,
Lang J,
Jaggy A.
Spontaneous lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in cats: Literature review and case presentations. J Fel Med Surg 2000; 02: 207-12.
19
Kirberger RM,
Roos CJ,
Lubbe AM.
The radiological diagnosis of thoracolumbar disc disease in the dachshund. Vet Radiol and Ultrasound 1992; 33: 255-61.
25
Scott HW,
McKee WM.
Laminectomy for 34 dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease and loss of deep pain perception. J Small Anim Pract 1999; 40: 417-22.
