Far lateral lumbar disc extrusion: MRI findings and surgical treatment

A. Fadda; J. Lang; F. Forterre

doi:10.3415/VCOT-12-08-0106

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2013; 26(04): 318-322
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-12-08-0106

Case Report

Schattauer GmbH

Far lateral lumbar disc extrusion: MRI findings and surgical treatment

Authors

A. Fadda

¹Department of Clinical Neurology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
J. Lang

¹Department of Clinical Neurology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
F. Forterre

¹Department of Clinical Neurology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

Abstract

Summary

This case report describes the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the treatment of a far lateral extrusion of disc material at the sixth and seventh lumbar vertebrae (L6-L7) in a five-year-old male Alpine Dachsbracke dog referred to our hospital for investigation of the complaint of a one week progressive lameness in the left pelvic limb and poorly localized back pain. An extra-foraminal left lateral disc herniation impinging on the sixth lumbar nerve root was diagnosed by MRI examinations. Due to the far lateral position of the extruded disc material on MRI, surgical opening of the spinal canal was not necessary. Removal of the herniated soft disc material impinging on the L6 nerve root, and fenestration of the L6-L7 disc was performed laterally. To the author’s knowledge ‘far-lateral’ disc herniation beyond the neuroforamen without any spinal canal contact has not been described in dogs until now. A complete recovery with no evidence of pain was achieved only after a couple of weeks after surgery. We acknowledge that it is possible that other pathological mechanisms may have contributed to clinical signs and to a delayed recovery.

Keywords

Far lateral extrusion of disc material - extraforaminal disk herniation - MRI - poorly localized - back pain

Full Text

References

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