The Role of Fenestration in Management of Type I Thoracolumbar Disk Degeneration.

Fenestration offers the advantages of prophylaxis without the need for specialized instrumentation and imaging. Currently there is a lack of equipoise regarding the efficacy of fenestration relative to decompression for treatment of acute canine intervertebral disk herniation; most veterinary spinal surgeons do not consider the 2 procedures equivalently efficacious. Therapeutic fenestration should perhaps be given greater consideration, especially if advanced imaging shows only mild to moderate spinal cord compression or there are restrictions on the duration of surgery, when it might be better to spend the time on fenestration rather than decompression.

Medical management of spinal epidural empyema in five dogs.

CASE DESCRIPTION 5 dogs were examined because of clinical signs of myelopathy, including signs of pain associated with the spinal region and rapidly progressive neurologic deficits. CLINICAL FINDINGS In all dogs, results of MRI were consistent with spinal epidural empyema. Concurrent infectious processes were identified at adjacent or distant sites in all dogs, including diskospondylitis, prostatitis, dermatitis, paraspinal infection following a penetrating injury, urinary tract infection, and pyothorax.

Electrophysiologic evidence of polyneuropathy in a cat with signs of bilateral brachial plexus neuropathy.

Case Description: A 2-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was examined because of bilateral thoracic limb weakness of acute onset.

Clinical Findings: Clinical signs included muscle atrophy, paresis, depressed spinal reflexes, hyperesthesia of the thoracic limbs, and reduced jaw muscle tone. Pelvic limb reflexes were normal.