Prevalence and clinical features of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc‐associated epidural hemorrhage in dogs. (6th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bridges, Jenni; Windsor, Rebecca; Stewart, Samuel D.; Fuerher‐Senecal, Lori; Khanna, Chand
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 36:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1365
• Page End: 1372
• Publication Date: 2022-05-06
• Subjects: dog -- French Bulldog -- hemilaminectomy -- spinal; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0896
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16442
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-6640

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Intervertebral disc‐associated epidural hemorrhage (EH) in dogs is a poorly understood neurological condition. Objective: To compare the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes, and clinical outcome of dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL‐IVDH) with and without EH. Animals: One hundred sixty client‐owned dogs that underwent MRI and hemilaminectomy for acute TL‐IVDH at a private practice in Colorado, including 63 dogs with EH and 97 dogs without EH. Methods: Retrospective review of medical record data from 160 dogs presenting sequentially to a single practice with acute TL‐IVDH that underwent MRI and hemilaminectomy surgery. Results: Sixty‐three of 160 (39%) dogs had confirmed EH. French Bulldogs were significantly overrepresented (23/63; odds ratio [OR]: 4.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8‐9.0; P < .001) of the EH cases. Dogs with EH were more likely to present with clinical signs less than 48 hours than were dogs without EH (24‐48 vs 48‐72 hours; OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.2‐4.6; P = .02) and were more likely to be nonambulatory on presentation (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0‐4.1; P = .04). Dogs with EH were more likely to have <50% cross‐sectional spinal cord compression than dogs without EH (OR: 2.3 vs. 0.4; 95% CI: 1.2‐4.4 and 0.2‐0.9, respectively), longer longitudinal spinal cord compression (3 spaces vs 1 space, P < .001), and greater intrinsic spinal cord change (grade 3/severe vs grade 1/mild; P < .001) based on MRI. The location of the intervertebral disc herniation in French Bulldogs with EH was more likely to be thoracolumbar (OR: 10.8; 95% CI: 2.1‐55.7; P = .03). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: French Bulldogs have a high prevalence of intervertebral disc‐associated EH. Dogs with EH have a shorter clinical course and are more likely to be nonambulatory on initial presentation.