title: Asymmetrical, transitional, lumbosacral vertebral segments in six dogs: a characteristic spinal syndrome.
abstract: Clinical findings in six dogs with asymmetrical, transitional, lumbosacral vertebral segments are reported. All dogs exhibited low back pain and varying degrees of asymmetrical cauda equina dysfunction. Results of myelography, epidurography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated a unilateral disk protrusion in all dogs. In the dogs with MRIs, focal degenerative alterations in the vertebral end plates and adjacent body of the vertebra were detected. All dogs were treated with a dorsal laminectomy or hemilaminectomy. Results following surgery were good or excellent in all six dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animals, Section of Small Animal Surgery/Neurology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Joe P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000473:pathology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009192:Myelography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome