title: Incidence of contralateral versus ipsilateral neurological signs associated with lateralised Hansen type I disc extrusion.
abstract: Asymmetrical neurological signs were noted in 50 dogs presenting with Hansen type I thoracolumbar disc extrusion. Thoracolumbar myelograms and surgical decompression were performed in all cases. Dogs were divided into two groups (acute and chronic) based on the duration of clinical signs prior to presentation to the University of Georgia. Lateralising extradural cord compressive lesions were noted on all myelograms. In the acute group, 35 per cent of the dogs had asymmetrical neurological signs contralateral to the myelographic and surgical lesion, while in the chronic group only 11 per cent had neurological signs contralateral to the lesion. There was found to be no significant difference in frequency of contralateral asymmetrical clinical signs between the two groups (Fischer's exact test; P = 0.095). The high frequency of contralateral signs documents the importance of thoracolumbar myelography for accurate localisation of the disc material before decompressive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30505, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Budsberg
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009192:Myelography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors