Intervertebral disc (IVD) disease is a surgical disease. Now, that has been said I will attempt
to explain the disease and why surgery is the treatment of choice. Not only is IVD disease a
common problem, it is one which I personally like, since it is one neurologic disease which can be
cured. IVD disease can occur as a protrusion of the IVD (Hansen’s Type 2 IVD) with the dorsal
annulus still coving the disc material or as a herniation of the nucleus pulposus into the neural canal
(Hansen’s Type 1 IVD). The former is most common in non-chondrodystrophic animals (straightlegged
dogs) and occurs as a result of age-related changes in the IVD. As animals age, the water
content of the IVD diminishes and the collagen content increases (similar to nuclear sclerosis of the
eye). This results in a decrease in the IVD elasticity, leading to degeneration of the annulus fibrosis
and protrusion of the IVD. Depending upon the location, this can result in spinal cord or nerve root
compression and development neurologic signs. The onset of signs increases with age, peaking
around 8-10 years of age. This type of IVD protrusion is uncommon before 5-6 years of age.
One the other hand, chondrodystrophic breeds of dogs are prone to the development of IVD
herniation early in life. In these breeds (including dachshunds, beagles, Pekinese, miniature poodles,
cocker spaniels, Pomeranians and basset hounds), there is a metaplasia of the nucleus pulposus
whereby the normal collagen fibers of the nucleus are replaced by hyaline fibers. The hyaline fibers
are less elastic than collagen fibers leading to degeneration of the annulus fibrosis. The hyaline
fibers during this degenerative process calcify, creating further inelasticity. Due to the fact that the
annulus fibrosis is thinnest dorsally toward the spinal cord, the least line of resistance for the
degeneration and breakdown of the annulus is toward the spinal cord. Ultimately, the annulus
ruptures allowing the herniation of the degenerative nucleus into the neural canal, compressing the
spinal cord. Not only does the IVD material compress the spinal cord, but the degenerative material
is irritative in nature. The presence of the herniated material in the epidural space causes
inflammation, furthering the swelling associated with the herniation.
Almost all chondrodystrophic dogs will show some degree of IVD degeneration within a
year of age. The earliest I have seen clinical IVD herniation is these dogs is at 7 months. Usually
the onset is between 2-3 years of age with the peak incidence being between 4-6 years of age. There are 26 IVD in dogs, ant one of which can herniate. However, IVD herniation is less common in the
upper thoracic region due to the conjugal ligament which connects the rib heads and reinforces the
dorsal annulus in that area. Of the remaining spinal column regions, 20% of IVD herniations occur
in the cervical region (C2-C7) with 80% of these at C2-3. In the thoracolumbar spinal column, 80%
of the IVD herniations occur with 67-75% of these occurring at T12-13 or T13-L1. The incidence
rapidly dissipates cranially and caudally from the TL junction. The incidence between T1 and T9
is less than 0.5%. From L4 caudally, each disc has an incidence of around 2.5%. Cervical IVD
herniation will cause quadriparesis (or quadriplegia) while TL IVD herniations result in paraparesis
to paraplegia.
In addition to location, the dynamic factor dictates the severity of clinical signs. The amount
of traumatic force imparted by a small amount of material traveling rapidly is greater than a larger
amount going slow. In the worst case, this means then time for intervention is also quiet short. In
most cases of IVD disease, definitive treatment must be started before 24 hours in order to achieve
the greatest success. In some cases, this time is shorter. Unfortunately, delaying treatment to see
the outcome may preclude success. We treat severe IVD disease as a medical and surgical
emergency. In patients with complete motor and sensory paralysis, the patient should be treated for
acute spinal injury and be immediately referred to a center who can diagnose and definitively treat
the problem. In patients who are paralyzed but retain deep pain, then it is possible to treat them for
acute spinal injury and observe them for signs of improvement. If they are worse or no better within
24 hours, they then constitute and emergency referral. On the other hand, it is best to refer these
patients at the outset. In patients with mild paresis or mere back pain, they can be worked-up for
the rule/out and referred if they do not make improvements in 5-7 days. These later patients may
benefit from surgical intervention, but might also recover from the current IVD herniation with
medical management. They are still surgical candidates upon recovery, to prevent future IVD
disease.
Medical management of IVD disease consists of absolute rest for a minimum of 30 days or
3 weeks beyond return to clinical normalcy. This confinement must be in a cage no more than 2.5
x 1.5 times the animal’s body length. An airline carrier is ideal. Many patients will benefit from
corticosteroid management during the initiation of treatment. I think this should only be done under
direct veterinary supervision. If the patient feels better and then becomes active before healing has
occur, they are at great risk to get worse. We see this outcome commonly. It could be prevented
in many cases, with absolute confinement of the patient. Owners do not always comply, allowing
their pet to worsen. For that reason, I prefer to treat these patients in the hospital for the first 5-7
days, going home without medication, only confinement. I would give 30 mg/kg of
methylprednisolone (Solu Medral or Solu Delta Cortef) IV, initially; followed by 15 mg/kg every
8 hours for the first 24 hours. Then, I give oral prednisolone at 1 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses for
5 days. If more steroids are needed, I give 0.5 mg/kg every other day in the morning. During
steroid medication, it is necessary to protect against steroid-gastritis. I use misoprostol (50-100 :g)
every 12 hours until using alternate day steroids. Many patients feel better with muscle relaxants.
I prefer diazepam at 0.25-0.5 mg/kg every 8 hours. Once the animal has recovered and has been
normal without medication for 3 weeks, prophylactic IVD fenestration can be performed. It is felt
that 60% of patients with moderate to mild IVD disease will recover with medical management. On
the other hand, 50-80% of these patients will experience additional IVD disease at the same or other
site during their lives. Clinically, I usually see recurrence of IVD disease in patients without
prophylactic fenestration every 6 months to a year.
As such, I prefer the surgical approach, decompression to treat the acute disease combined
with fenestration to prevent future problems. Fenestration is a statistical game, removing the nuclear
material (and creating fibrosis within the disc for additional support) so that the chance of IVD
herniation at the fenestrated site is lessened. Fenestration does not remove material from the neural
canal, laminectomy is needed for that. In the neck, fenestration of C2-C6 reduces the likelihood of
future herniation by 99% in that region (.99 x .2, overall). In the TL region, fenestration of T11-L3
reduces the chances by 95% in that region (.92 x .8, overall). By combining cervical and TL
fenestration, the overall chances of recurrent IVD disease is reduced by 93%. While not all patients
read the same statistical books, generally this will eliminate future IVD disease. If decompression
is need for the patient to recover, fenestration can be performed to prevent recurrence. In cases
where fenestration has not been done, the patient remains at risk for recurrent IVD disease.
The diagnosis of IVD disease is made with radiographs and myelography. Since many cases
present with acute signs, EMG does not offer assistance. In some cases, CSF analysis helps rule/out
meningomyelitis, but myelography is what determines the extend and surgical approach of choice.
In most cases, this will be hemilaminectomy. Myelography helps to confirm the side upon which
to perform the laminectomy. Scout radiographs may demonstrate the presence of degenerative disc
disease by revealing calcified nuclear material. The site of herniation may show collapse of the IVD
space, wedging of the IVD space, collapse of the demi-facets and the presence of calcified material
in the neural canal. Coupled with the neurologic examination, this may be enough to determine the
need for surgical intervention. When there is doubt about the location or the radiographic changes
do not fit the neurologic findings, myelography is needed. Myelography will also help rule/out other
diseases which might cause spinal cord compression, such as neoplasia.
Beyond treatment and surgical fenestration, it is possible that certain dietary supplements
would benefit chondrodystrophic patients to prevent IVD disease or to facilitate their recovery upon
IVD herniation. Tofu (rich in soy lecithin) may aid in spinal cord myelination. Antioxidants like
vitamin E, vitamin C and ginkgo biloba may help prevent degeneration and, certainly, appear to help
protect the spinal cord from the results on spinal cord injury. Vitamin E and C must be given prior
to the damage, while ginkgo biloba may be as effective as methylprednisolone in treating the injury
once it has happened. Our current understanding of spinal cord damage suggests that antioxidants
may work by sparing spinal cord function, while the steroid receptor may help protect spinal cord
architecture. As such, methylprednisolone, which contains both the antioxidant effect and steroid
receptor effect, is currently the best medication for the treatment of brain and spinal cord injury.
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