Finite element analysis shows minimal stability difference between individualized mini-hemilaminectomy-corpectomy and partial lateral corpectomy in a dog model.

Objective: Use finite element analysis to evaluate the biomechanical effects of spinal decompression procedures in healthy Beagle dogs, comparing individualized mini-hemilaminectomy-corpectomy (iMHC), mini-hemilaminectomy, partial lateral corpectomy (PLC), and hemilaminectomy.

Methods: A finite element model of the L1-L2 functional spinal unit was generated using CT data. For each decompression model, loads were applied in 0.

Finite element analysis predictions in the canine lumbar spine are useful and correlate with ex vivo biomechanical studies.

Objective: To verify the validity of finite element analysis (FEA) predictions obtained from a canine lumbar segment model in comparison with experimental biomechanical testing results from the same subjects.

Animals: 6 healthy beagle dogs were euthanized for other purposes.

Methods: The L1-2 and L5-6 segments were harvested from euthanized animals and subjected to rotation tests and compression tests, respectively, using both ex vivo mechanical testing and FEA.

Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula in 3 cats.

Three young adult cats with intermittent spinal hyperesthesia and paraparesis and diagnosed with spinal epidural arteriovenous fistula are described. In all 3 cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed focal dilatation of the veins in the epidural space of the thoracic spinal cord, whereas computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed dilatation and enhancement from the intercostal vein to the azygos vein at the same site in the arterial phase. Dorsal laminectomy and occlusion of the interarcuate branches running across the dorsal aspect of the spinal cord were performed in all 3 cats to decompress the spinal cord, which resulted in a remission of clinical signs and no recurrence during 14 to 40 months of follow-up after surgery in all cases.

Effect of durotomy in dogs with thoracolumbar disc herniation and without deep pain perception in the hind limbs.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of durotomy as an adjunct to surgical decompression in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL-IVDH) and loss of deep pain perception (DPP) in the hind limbs.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 116) with TL-IVDH and loss of DPP treated with hemilaminectomy.

Evaluation of atlantooccipital overlapping and cerebral ventricle size in dogs with atlantoaxial instability.

This study investigated cerebral ventricle size and concurrent craniocervical junction abnormality in relation to atlantooccipital overlapping (AOO) in dogs with atlantoaxial instability (AAI). A total of 61 dogs were treated with atlantoaxial ventral fixation. Medical records of each dog, including magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) images, were retrospectively reviewed.

Atlantooccipital overlapping and its effect on outcomes after ventral fixation in dogs with atlantoaxial instability.

We compared clinical outcomes after ventral fixation in dogs with atlantoaxial instability (AAI) on the basis of the presence or absence of atlantooccipital overlapping (AOO). Of 41 dogs diagnosed with AAI and treated ventral fixation, 12 exhibited AOO (AOO group), whereas 29 did not (non-AOO group). The AOO group had significantly higher neurological scores before (P=0.