Spinal Arachnoid Diverticula: Outcome in 96 Medically or Surgically Treated Dogs

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is reported about the role of medical management in the treatment of spinal arachnoid diverticula (SAD) in dogs.ObjectivesTo describe the outcome of 96 dogs treated medically or surgically for SAD.AnimalsNinety‐six dogs with SAD.MethodsRetrospective case series. Medical records were searched for spinal arachnoid diverticula and all dogs with information on treatment were included. Outcome was assessed with a standardized questionnaire.ResultsFifty dogs were managed medically and 46 dogs were treated surgically. Dogs that underwent surgery were significantly younger than dogs that received medical management. No other variables, related to clinical presentation, were significantly different between both groups of dogs. The median follow‐up time was 16 months (1–90 months) in the medically treated and 23 months (1–94 months) in the surgically treated group. Of the 38 dogs treated surgically with available long‐term follow‐up, 82% (n = 31) improved, 3% (n = 1) remained stable and 16% (n = 6) deteriorated after surgery. Of the 37 dogs treated medically with available long‐term follow‐up, 30% (n = 11) improved, 30% (n = 11) remained stable, and 40% (n = 15) deteriorated. Surgical treatment was more often associated with clinical improvement compared to medical management (P = .0002).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe results of this study suggest that surgical treatment might be superior to medical treatment in the management of SAD in dogs. Further studies with standardized patient care are warranted.

Short‐ and long‐term outcome and magnetic resonance imaging findings after surgical treatment of thoracolumbar spinal arachnoid diverticula in 25 Pugs

“…A moderate negative correlation (r = 0.50) was detected between the duration of clinical signs before presentation and the onset of recurrence of signs of neurological dysfunction, which differs from the results of the previous study . On the other hand, shorter duration of signs showed a trend for prediction of better outcome after surgical procedure in a study with 7 dogs suffering from SAD .…”

“…In another study with 13 dogs suffering from SAD, there was postsurgical improvement in 66% of cases with follow‐up period ranging from 6 to 30 months . Recurrence of signs of neurological dysfunction in dogs with initial improvement occurred in 25% of the cases in the previous study which included 15 surgical cases of SAD, and only a few cases of recurrence are reported in 2 studies with 38 and 14 surgical cases involved . In the current study, short‐term outcome rates are similar to the follow‐up results in all dog breeds.…”

“…Our findings differ from findings of other studies with various dog breeds suffering from SAD involved, but our findings are similar compared to studies where Pugs were investigated. Intervertebral disc disease is a rare concurrent finding in dogs of other breeds affected with SAD with prevalence ranging from none to 7% . In contrast, IVDD was found in 60% (3/5) and 40% (2/5) of Pugs suffering from SAD in 2 studies .…”

“…Therefore, long‐term outcome rate in the current study was much lower compared to studies which included various dog breeds with SAD. In studies describing outcome after surgical treatment of SAD including all dog breeds, there was improvement in 66% and 82% of the cases with median follow‐up of 23 months (15 and 38 surgically managed cases included) . In another study with 13 dogs suffering from SAD, there was postsurgical improvement in 66% of cases with follow‐up period ranging from 6 to 30 months .…”

“…Surgical treatment outcome success of cervical and thoracolumbar SADs does not differ significantly . Success rates of surgical management of thoracolumbar SADs in various breeds are up to 82% . In Pugs, mostly surgical management of SAD with various results is reported .…”