Surgical Outcomes of Laminectomy, Durotomy and a Non-Synthetic Dura Substitute Application in Ten Dogs with a Spinal Subarachnoid Diverticulum
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Paragon Veterinary Referrals, Part of Linnaeus, Paragon Business Village Paragon Way, Red Hall Cres, Wakefield WF1 2DF, UK
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Blaise Referrals, 1601 Bristol Road South, Longbridge, Birmingham B45 9UA, UK
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11030128
Submission received: 27 January 2024
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Revised: 2 March 2024
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Accepted: 12 March 2024
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Published: 14 March 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurology and Neurosurgery in Small Animals)
Simple Summary
Spinal subarachnoid diverticula are fluid dilations in the subarachnoid space that can cause compression of the spinal cord and associated neurological dysfunction such as paresis, spinal ataxia, and urinary and faecal incontinence. This study describes the signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging findings, surgical treatment, and outcomes of laminectomy, durotomy, and the application of a non-synthetic dura substitute in ten dogs with a spinal subarachnoid diverticulum. Based on the good long-term postoperative results, we concluded that dura substitute application is a viable and safe technique in dogs for the surgical treatment of subarachnoid diverticulum.
Abstract
This retrospective study aimed to report the surgical treatment and outcomes of laminectomies followed by durotomy and the application of a non-synthetic collagen matrix dura substitute (DurepairTM) in ten dogs with a spinal subarachnoid diverticulum (SAD). The medical records of these ten client-owned dogs with SAD diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were reviewed. All patients had chronic and progressive deficits. At presentation, common neurological signs were proprioceptive ataxia, ambulatory spastic paraparesis or tetraparesis, and faecal incontinence. Dorsal thoracolumbar laminectomy was performed in eight dogs; one dog underwent cervical dorsolateral laminectomy, and one patient had thoracic hemilaminectomy. Laminectomies were followed by durotomy, allowing the dissection of the pia-arachnoid adhesions. A rectangular patch of a non-synthetic dura substitute was applied as an onlay graft over the durotomy site before routine closure. Proprioceptive ataxia, paraparesis, and tetraparesis improved in all patients. Faecal incontinence in one patient resolved postoperatively. Laminectomy, durotomy, and the application of a non-synthetic dura substitute was a safe procedure facilitating postoperative improvement over a long-term follow-up period (from 9 to 40 months).
