title: Recovery of stepping and coordination in dogs following acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniations.
abstract: Prospective data on the recovery of coordination in dogs suffering acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniations (TL-IVDH) are limited. The purpose of this study was to use treadmill based and open field scores (OFS) to quantify recovery of stepping ability and forelimb, hindlimb coordination in the 6 weeks following surgical decompression of dogs with TL-IVDH. Sixty-three dogs were grouped at presentation as grades 3 (non-ambulatory paraparetic), 4 (paraplegic) or 5 (paraplegic without pain sensation) and were evaluated 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-operatively. Stepping scores and Regularity Index (RI), a measure of coordination, were calculated from treadmill walking, and an OFS incorporating supported and unsupported walking was assigned. Outcomes for the three measures were compared between groups and correlation between scoring methods was assessed. Grade 3 and 4 dogs recovered ambulation by 2 weeks, reaching median stepping scores of 96 and 90% by 6 weeks, respectively. Recovery of coordination differed between groups 3 and 4 with median RI scores of 93.9% and 63%, respectively, by 6 weeks. Eight grade 5 dogs failed to recover independent ambulation by 6 weeks. Nine dogs recovered with scores that were significantly worse than the grade 3 and 4 dogs at 6 weeks for stepping score (P < 0.001) and RI (P < 0.001). OFS correlated closely with stepping and RI scores and each group was significantly different using this ordinal scale. In conclusion, recovery of coordination was incomplete in dogs that showed good recovery of stepping. The data generated could be used for clinical trial design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rousse
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. Electronic address: natasha_olby@ncsu.edu.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Olby
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, 2311 Stinson Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA; Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Muñana
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Early
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016138:Walking
keywords: Canine; Gait; Locomotion; Paralysis; Spinal cord injury