title: Thoracolumbar dorsolateral laminectomy with osteotomy of the spinous process in fourteen dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe outcome after an alternative unilateral approach to the thoracolumbar spine for dorsal laminectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n=14) with thoracolumbar spinal cord compression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thoracolumbar spinal cord compression was lateral (6 dogs), dorsal (4), and dorsolateral (4) caused by subarachnoid (7) and synovial cysts (2) and intradural-extramedullary neoplasia (5). All dogs were treated by dorsal laminectomy with osteotomy of the spinous process using a unilateral paramedian approach. The contralateral paraspinal muscles were not stripped from the spinous process and the osteoligamentous complexes were preserved. Retraction of the spinous process and muscles to the contralateral side resulted in complete visualization of the dorsal vertebral arch thereby allowing dorsal laminectomy to be performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No technique complications occurred. Approximately 75% exposure of the spinal cord (dorsal and lateral compartments) was achieved providing adequate visualization and treatment of the lesions. Transient deterioration of neurologic state occurred in 5 dogs because of extensive spinal cord manipulation. At long-term follow-up, 6 dogs were normal, 6 had clinical improvement, and 2 were unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dorsal laminectomy after osteotomy and retraction of the spinous process may be considered in canine patients with dorsal, dorsolateral, or lateral compression to facilitate adequate decompression of the spinal cord.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This surgical technique offers an alternative approach to the thoracolumbar spine and spinal cord by a modified dorsal laminectomy that preserves the paraspinal muscle integrity on the contralateral side.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, Department of Surgery and Neurology, Vetsuisse-Faculty University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. frank.forterre@kkh.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forterre
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spreng
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rytz
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaggy
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schawalder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome