Postoperative symptomatic haematoma and pneumorrhachis in a dog with a thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion.
METHODS
A 6-year-old male neutered crossbreed dog presented with acute onset paraparesis and was diagnosed with an L1-L2 intervertebral disc extrusion. A right-sided T13-L2 hemilaminectomy was performed. However, the dog deteriorated and became paraplegic with marked thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia 48 h after surgery. A computed tomography scan of the thoracolumbar vertebral column revealed the presence of pneumorrhachis (PR) at the level of T13, possibly embedded in a haematoma, and causing marked spinal cord compression. Revision surgery confirmed the presence of a haematoma, which was removed. The dog gradually improved and was neurologically normal 6 weeks after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Although PR is a rare condition, it may be considered a possible cause for early postoperative neurological deterioration in dogs undergoing decompressive spinal surgery. Surgical revision resulted in a good outcome in the presented case.
Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.|Department of Medicine and Clinical Biology of Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
I
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2140-7566
I
Cornelis
Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
P
P
Monticelli
Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
S
S
De Decker
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D063205:Pneumorrhachis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
hemilaminectomy; intervertebral disc extrusion; pneumorrhachis; postoperative complications; vertebral canal