title: Risk factors for recurrence of clinical signs associated with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation in dogs: 229 cases (1994-2000).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess risk factors for recurrence of clinical signs associated with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in dogs that had decompressive laminectomy without attempted prophylactic treatment of other disk spaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  229 dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of dogs that had decompressive laminectomy without prophylactic fenestration for a first episode of IVDD and were available for follow-up were reviewed. Information on 7 clinical and 8 radiographic potential risk factors were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical signs associated with recurrence of IVDD developed in 44 (19.2%) dogs. Ninety-six percent of recurrences developed within 3 years after surgery. Recurrence developed in 25% of Dachshunds and 15% of dogs of other breeds combined. Number of opacified disks was a significant risk factor for recurrence. Risk increased with number of opacified disks in an almost linear manner; each opacified disk increased risk by 1.4 times. Dogs with 5 or 6 opacified disks at the time of first surgery had a recurrence rate of 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When all likely episodes of recurrence are considered and a long follow-up period is achieved, true rate of recurrence of IVDD appears to be higher than in many previous reports. Dogs with multiple opacified disks at the time of first surgery should be considered a high-risk subpopulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6010, USA.
authors.forename: Philipp D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: McLear
authors.forename: Lisa S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ziemer
authors.forename: William T N
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Culp
authors.forename: Kelli N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Frances S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Shofer
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kapatkin
authors.forename: Gail K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia / Q000662:veterinary*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome