Lumbosacral Stenosis in 29 Military Working Dogs: Epidemiologic Findings and Outcome After Surgical Intervention (1990–1999)

Abstract

Information provided by this study should help military veterinarians determine the prognosis for working dogs with DLS after surgical treatment.

A follow-up study of neurologic and radiographic findings in working German Shepherd Dogs with and without degenerative lumbosacral stenosis

“…As suggested previously, 23 milder forms of DLSS do not necessarily interfere with working capabilities in working GSDs because of their temperament and, possibly, higher pain tolerance. Five of these dogs only had signs of pain during the neurologic examination, but 1 had more severe neurologic deficits.…”

The Lumbosacral Junction in Working German Shepherd Dogs – Neurological and Radiological Evaluation

“…Mattoon and Koblik (1993) described disk space collapse, moderate to severe spondylosis, wide LS angulation (>170°), LS malalignment as radiographic predictors for CES. Linn et al. (2003) found foraminal narrowing indicating a poor long‐term prognosis for surgery.…”

Evaluation of the rostral projection of the sacral lamina as a component of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in German shepherd dogs

“…A greater ligament length, in conjunction with strenuous force exposure during working, could predispose dogs with a shorter sacral lamina to greater biomechanical forces acting over the interarcuate ligaments and ligamentum flavum, predisposing to hypertrophy and thereby contributing to dorsal canal narrowing and greater compression of the cauda equina. Interarcuate ligament hypertrophy has been described in 20% 23 ‐57.6% of dogs undergoing surgery for DLSS. Interarcuate ligament hypertrophy in dogs with DLSS was also shown to be a negative prognostic factor at the time of surgical intervention with regard to surgical outcome .…”

“…Interarcuate ligament hypertrophy has been described in 20% 23 ‐57.6% of dogs undergoing surgery for DLSS. Interarcuate ligament hypertrophy in dogs with DLSS was also shown to be a negative prognostic factor at the time of surgical intervention with regard to surgical outcome . Conversely, greater rostral projection of the lamina might limit LS extension and, therefore, be protective for DLSS.…”