title: Influence of in-house rehabilitation on the postoperative outcome of dogs with intervertebral disk herniation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of in-house rehabilitation on the postoperative outcome of dogs with intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n = 248) under 20 kg of weight, with single site, thoracolumbar, Hansen Type I IVDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of non-ambulatory dogs with IVDH treated via hemilaminectomy were reviewed. Dogs were classified in 2 groups depending on whether their postoperative management included an in-house rehabilitation program. Preoperative and sequential postoperative modified Frankel scores (MFSs) were recorded. Time to ambulation, time to normal conscious proprioception, final MFS, and complications were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More dogs returned to full neurologic function (final MFS of Grade 5) when in-house rehabilitation was included in the postoperative management (33% compared to 9%). Normal conscious proprioception and ambulation returned earlier in the control group (42 days and 14 days, respectively) compared to the group with rehabilitation (49 days and 28 days, respectively). The complication rate was higher in the control group (29%) compared with the group with rehabilitation (16%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In-house rehabilitation should be included in the postoperative management in dogs after surgical treatment of IVDH to improve neurologic function and reduce postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.affiliation: Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bevan
authors.affiliation: RCVS Knowledge, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Central Texas Veterinary Specialty Hospital, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Thai I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies