The aim of this study was to compare the reduction of spinal cord compression after surgical treatment of dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) extrusion achieved using hemilaminectomy versus mini-hemilaminectomy techniques. This was a prospective randomized study with client-owned dogs presented with acute IVD extrusion that were allocated to surgical treatment using hemilaminectomy (n = 15) or mini-hemilaminectomy (n = 15) techniques. Plain and intravenous-contrast computed tomography was performed pre- and postoperatively. The preoperative minimal cross-sectional dimension of the spinal cord (MDSCpre) and the postoperative minimal cross-sectional dimension of the spinal cord (MDSCpost) were measured at the level of greatest compression. The minimal diameter of the uncompressed spinal cord was measured in a similar way both pre- (MDUSCpre) and postoperatively (MDUSCpost). Dogs in the mini-hemilaminectomy group had significantly greater reduction of compression (RC) (p < 0.01) after surgery compared to dogs in the hemilaminectomy group. The mean RC in the hemilaminectomy group was 34.6% and in the mini-hemilaminectomy group 62.6%. Our results showed a significantly greater reduction of spinal cord compression for mini-hemilaminectomy compared to hemilaminectomy. Additionally, mini-hemilaminectomy could be a preferred method due to its minimal invasiveness and easier access to lateral fenestration.

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Case summary A 3-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair indoor cat presented with a 3-week history of pain from the pelvic region. Physical examination revealed pain elicited on palpating the pelvic area and right hip. Radiographs and CT showed an expansile, osteolytic process with intact cortex in the right wing of the ilium. CT revealed a monostotic and soft tissue-attenuating process with clear margins. Preoperative histopathological diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst was made from incisional biopsies. The cyst was removed en bloc with limb-sparing partial iliectomy. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst. Recovery from surgery was uneventful. At re-examination 8 weeks and 8 months postoperatively, the cat was pain free and physical examinations were within normal limits. Relevance and novel information Feline aneurysmal bone cysts are rare and reported cases are few. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the CT appearance of a pelvic aneurysmal bone cyst and partial iliectomy with limb preservation in a cat with successful short-term outcome.

SummaryTwenty patients undergoing rnicrolaryngoscopy were anaesthetised with thiopentone. Half received ,fentanyl supplementation (about 8.5 pgglkg)

Consecutive determinations of erythropoietin in serum (s-Epo) were made in ten patients with chronic hypoxia starting domiciliary long-term oxygen therapy (LTO). After 24 h of supplementary oxygen treatment there was a fall in the median s-Epo level from 11.3 to 4.4 IU.l-1 (p less than 0.01). The initial decrease in s-Epo in conjunction with oxygen treatment was not sustained after one and three months of LTO. S-Epo levels above the reference range (3.3-13.5 IU.l-1) were found in three patients before and during LTO and in another two patients during LTO. Markedly elevated s-Epo levels were found in two patients with hypoxia and hypercapnia at the time of blood sampling. A significant negative relationship was found between the arterial oxygen tension and the log value for the s-Epo level (r = 0.40, p less than 0.005). The s-Epo levels were found to be normal in half of the measurements in patients using oxygen less than 15 h daily, a fact that indicates that s-Epo measurements are probably not suitable as indicators of compliance with LTO.