title: Assessment of Intrathecal Pressure in Chondrodystrophic Dogs With Acute Thoracolumbar Disk Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess intrathecal pressure (ITP) in chondrodystrophic dogs with thoracolumbar disk extrusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1: 11 chondrodystrophic dogs with thoracolumbar disk extrusion and present deep pain sensation. Group 2 (control): 3 healthy chondrodystrophic laboratory dogs without spinal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis was based on neurologic signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and surgical confirmation. Blood pressure was maintained within physiologic range during anesthesia. A standardized surgical procedure was applied to minimize factors that could influence measurement readings. An extended hemilaminectomy was performed and ITP was measured with a fiber optic catheter. The catheter was inserted in the subarachnoid space 1 spinal segment caudal to the level of herniation and its tip was advanced to the site of compression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly higher ITP occurred in chondrodystrophic dogs with acute thoracolumbar disk disease compared with controls. ITP was not associated with duration of clinical signs, neurologic status, outcome, degree of spinal cord compression, or signal intensity changes as assessed by MRI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute thoracolumbar disk disease leads to elevated ITP in chondrodystrophic dogs, which may contribute to increased compression of spinal cord parenchyma.
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rhona E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rohrbach
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gorgas
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gendron
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Henke
authors.affiliation: Department Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forterre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D057785:Catheters / Q000662:veterinary; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*