title: Effect of ventral slot procedure on spinal cord compression in dogs with single static intervertebral disc disease: preliminary findings while evaluating a semiquantitative computed tomographic myelographic score of spinal cord compression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (1) evaluate pre- and postoperative cervical spinal cord compression (SCC) in the context of uncomplicated ventral slot (VS) decompression using computed tomographic (CT) myelography and (2) report reliability of a semiquantitative SCC score using CT myelography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective and retrospective, clinical pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n = 17) with single static intervertebral disc disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  On matched pre- and postoperative transverse CT myelographic images, degree and lateralization of extradural SCC were scored by 4 blinded independent observers, followed by consensus finding. Inter- and intraobserver variability was quantified using intraclass correlation (ICC). Nonparametric tests were performed comparing pre- and postoperative SCC, correlation with neurologic status and significance of lateralization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Because of invisible contrast agent, only 13 dogs could be fully evaluated. After VS, SCC was significantly reduced whereas neurologic function significantly improved. Ten dogs had residual compression, not affecting neurologic long-term outcome. Only preoperative compression score and neurologic status 3-7 weeks postoperatively were inversely correlated. Lateralization of SCC preoperatively did not affect postsurgical compression scores. Interobserver ICC was 0.848 and intraobserver ICC was 0.984.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VS improves neurologic function but often fails at completely resolving extradural SCC. The proposed CT myelographic score is highly reliable, assuring consistency among and within observers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. boettcher@kleintierklinik.uni-leipzig.de
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Irene Christine
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Truar
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ludewig
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oechtering
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flegel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D015588:Observer Variation; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary*