Case Study

CT – Cervical Disc Herniation Multiple Sites with Compressive Myelopathy in a 8 year old MN Chihuahua dog

The patient had a surgery preformed on 8/3/15 to have minor skin tags removed. Owner noticed Monday after surgery something wrong with his front left leg. Owner says his leg will buckle from under him when standing and he falls. His activity is very limited, he is kenneled, and goes outside for elimination only. There is no history of seizures, no allergies to food or medication, he is still E/D well for him, no V/D.

Physical Exam: WNL

DX

Multiple sites of disc herniation were present within the cervical spine. The findings were compatible with an acute disc extrusion with a significant compressive myelopathy level with C3/4 whereas the findings were compatible with chronic intervertebral disc degeneration and protrusions with a mild to moderate compressive effects at the multiple other sites affected including the intervertebral disc spaces C2/3, C4/5, C5/6 and C6/7.

Image Interpretation

CT of the cervical spine – There was a moderate amount of extradural hypoattenuating material ventrally within the vertebral canal level with C3/4 centered over the intervertebral disc space. The compressive effect to the myelon was slightly eccentric and shifted to the left. The vertebral canal diameter was reduced by approximately 45 %. The myelon showed dorsoventral flattening and was displaced dorsally and slightly towards the right lateral aspect of the vertebral canal. The ventral and dorsal contrast columns were lost.
A moderate disc protrusion associated with moderate signs of degeneration of the intervertebral space was evident at C2/3. The compressive effect to the myelon was mild to moderate. The ventral contrast column was severely reduced in height. The vertebral canal diameter was reduced by approximately 30 %.
A moderate disc protrusion associated with moderate signs of degeneration including a vacuum phenomenon of the disc was evident at C4/5. The compressive effect to the myelon was mild to moderate. The ventral contrast column was moderately to severely reduced in height. The vertebral canal diameter was reduced by approximately 30 %.
Mild disc protrusions were noted at C5/6 and C6/7. The compressive effects to the myelon were mild with reductions of the vertebral canal diameter by approximately 20 % and 15 % respectively. Associated with the intervertebral disc space C6/7 severe signs of chronic degeneration were evident.

Outcome

According to the imaging findings the highest relevance for the current clinical signs is attributed to the C3/4 extrusion. However, the prognosis overall is guarded because of the multiple other sites of chronic compressive myelopathy.