Functional Recovery from Spinal Cord Trauma Following Incision of Spinal Meninges in Dogs

Influence of Durotomy on Laser‐Doppler Measurement of Spinal Cord Blood Flow in Chondrodystrophic Dogs with Thoracolumbar Disk Extrusion

“…However, in a patient that is plegic because of spinal cord trauma, opening the dura or performing a myelotomy seems to result in little difference with regard to recovery . Durotomy has been reported to improve functional recovery of traumatized spinal cords in dogs, if performed immediately after impact trauma . These authors observed that a 2 hour delay between trauma and durotomy reduced the difference in functional recovery between experimental and control dogs to insignificant levels .…”

“…These goals are mainly achieved by removal of the extruded compressing disk material through hemilaminectomy or laminectomy. The surgical value of durotomy on spinal cord decompression and improvement of medullary blood flow has been controversially discussed . Durotomy provides direct observation of the spinal cord to evaluate contusions or myelomalacia, and is performed as a diagnostic aid in determining spinal cord structural integrity.…”

“…Further, it has been experimentally demonstrated that durotomy performed within 2 hours of disk extrusion may be therapeutic; however, after prolonged compression, the positive effects of durotomy on functional recovery were reduced to insignificant levels . It also has been suggested that a durotomy may relieve intramedullary compression but there still is some debate about its real therapeutic value . Loughin et al found no significant effect on postoperative motor function after durotomy .…”

Comparison of hemilaminectomy and dorsal laminectomy for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion in dachshunds

“…Durotomy may be associated with mild spinal cord injury (Parker and Smith 19721, although immediate durotomy may improve the functional recovery of dogs after experimental spinal cord injury (Parker and Smith 1974). However, this benefit is lost if durotomy is delayed two hours or more (Parker and Smith 1975).…”

Lateral spinal decompression in the dog

“…However, in cases of per-acute disc prolapse resulting in multi-segmental cord oedema and swelling, more radical bone removal can be accomplished by craniocaudal and/or dorsal extension. In conjunction with decompression, durotomy (Parker & Smith, 1974) and normothermic and/or hypothermic cord irrigation (Tator & Deecke, 1973;Smith & Parker, 1975) can also be performed.…”