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. 2024 Dec;26(12):1098612X241299276.
doi: 10.1177/1098612X241299276.

Retrospective study of partial lateral corpectomy to treat thoracic and lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in 12 cats

Florian Tyroller  1   2 , Jan Wennemuth  2 , Franck Forterre  3 , Thomas Flegel  4 , Carina Markert  2 , Ingmar Kiefer  4 , Nadja Wunderlin  2   5
Affiliations

Retrospective study of partial lateral corpectomy to treat thoracic and lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in 12 cats

Florian Tyroller et al. J Feline Med Surg. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the safety and effectiveness of thoracic or lumbar partial lateral corpectomy (PLC) in cats with spinal cord compression due to intervertebral disc herniation (IVH).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 12 client-owned cats from two academic and one private referral veterinary centres. Cross-sectional imaging was available in 12 cats for evaluation of disc herniation. Nine cats had postoperative imaging for evaluation of slot creation and decompression. Neurological examination was performed for assessment of pre- and postoperative status. Complications were evaluated.

Results: Seven cats had severe (>50%), four moderate (>20 to <50%) and one mild (<20%) spinal cord compression on cross-sectional imaging. IVH occurred at Th12-13 in five cases, at L1-2 in two cases and at Th3-4, Th13-L1, L4-5 and L5-6 in one case each. After PLC, two cats had insufficient decompression (>20% remaining spinal cord compression), five had good decompression (<20% remaining spinal cord compression) and complete decompression (normal shape of the spinal cord) was achieved in two cats. Outcomes included five cats with an excellent result, three with significant improvement, one with mild improvement and three cats that died intra- or postoperatively due to extensive intraoperative bleeding. One cat was euthanased as a result of neurological deterioration 5 months postoperatively. The median follow-up period was 13.2 months (range 0 days to 84 months).

Conclusions and relevance: PLC in cats offers a potential treatment option for IVH to decompress the spinal cord. Fatal haemorrhage associated with this surgery is a significant risk, as occurred in 25% of the cats in this study. Surgeons should especially be aware of the potential for intraoperative haemorrhage and the need for sufficient slot creation to achieve sufficient spinal cord decompression and avoid complications.

Keywords: Neurosurgery; complications; disc disease; partial lateral corpectomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different imaging modalities of disc protrusion: (a) transverse CT image (soft tissue window); (b) horizontal myelo-CT image (soft tissue window); and (c) MRI T2-weighted image; respective disc protrusion marked with arrows
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Transverse CT image of a slightly lateralised severe compressive disc protrusion (arrow); (b) sagittal CT image of the same disc protrusion (arrow) with cranial extension; (c) transverse CT image after partial lateral corpectomy (PLC); and (d) sagittal CT image after PLC. x = laterolateral slot extension; y = dorsoventral slot extension; z = craniocaudal slot extension
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Sagittal and (b) horizontal CT imaging of a pronounced mineralised disc herniation at T12–13 (arrows), classified as obvious lateralised and severe compressive
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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