Thoracolumbar disc surgery

I First episode Conservative Subsequent episode Fenestration 11 First episode Conservative Subsequent episode Fenestration Deterioration Fenestration or decompression Ill Surgical, preferably decompression IVSurgical, preferably decompression V Signs present < 48 hours Decompression Signs present > 48 hours Conservative MOST small animal clinicians have been presented with dogs suffering from a thoracolumbar (TL) disc protrusion or extrusion. The method of treatment selected can have a profound influence on the dog's future mobility and in some circumstances the situation is as much an emergency as any other in veterinary practice. Clinical signs vary with the severity of the lesion. Most affected animals display an acute or sub-acute onset of neurological deficits in the hind limbs, spinal hyperaesthesia and possibly bladder dysfunction. A method of categorising the signs on the basis of the severity of the neurological deficit is given in the table.