Intraoperative use of ultrasonography during continuous dorsal laminectomy in two dogs with caudal cervical vertebral instability and malformation ("Wobbler syndrome").
OBJECTIVE
To describe an intraoperative ultrasound imaging technique during dorsal laminectomy in 2 dogs with caudal cervical vertebral instability and malformation (CCVIM, "Wobbler syndrome").


METHODS
Clinical case report.


METHODS
Two dogs with CCVIM.


RESULTS
On neurologic examination there was tetraparesis with upper motor neuron signs in the thoracic limbs and lower motor neuron signs in the pelvic limbs in dog 1, and hyperreflexia of the rear limbs, normoreflexia of the right front limb, and hyporeflexia of the left front limb of dog 2. Both dogs had signs of marked cervical pain and radiographic signs of cervical spinal cord compression. Intraoperative ultrasonography of the spinal cord revealed protruding intervertebral disc at C5-6 (dog 1) and C6-7 (dog 2), and the parallel borders of the spinal cord and central canal after decompression. Continuous dorsal laminectomy (CDL) resulted in improvement over 16 months (dog 1) and 20 months (dog 2).


CONCLUSIONS
Intraoperative ultrasonographic imaging of the cervical spinal cord after CDL was helpful in determining adequate decompression (postlaminectomy) of the spinal cord in relation to the ventral and lateral compressive component(s) and to image the protruding intervertebral disc.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraoperative ultrasonography can be used to provide valuable information on the spinal cord and surrounding soft tissues for the neurosurgeon.
Nanai
Beatrix
B
Animal Emergency and Referral Center, Fort Pierce, FL, USA. bnanai@yahoo.com
Lyman
Ronald
R
Bichsel
Pierre
P
D000818:Animals; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D013577:Syndrome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000662:veterinary*