European Society for Veterinary Neurology: Research Abstracts of the 16th Annual Symposium September 26–27, 2003, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

1 BRAIN BIOPSY IN THE DOG: THE LAITINEN’S METHOD. P. Moissonnier. Service de Chirurgie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Maisons Alfort, France. Abstract #2 NEW SURGICAL TREATMENTS OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS AVULSION. P. Moissonnier. Service de Chirurgie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Maisons Alfort, France.2 NEW SURGICAL TREATMENTS OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS AVULSION. P. Moissonnier. Service de Chirurgie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Maisons Alfort, France. Abstract #3 COMPLICATIONS OF MYELOGRAPHY. A.L. Hopkins. North Florida Neurology, Jacksonville, FL3 COMPLICATIONS OF MYELOGRAPHY. A.L. Hopkins. North Florida Neurology, Jacksonville, FL Abstract #4 PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH OSSEOUS DURAL METAPLASIA, AN UNDERESTIMATED SPINAL SYNDROME. M.T. Mandara*, E. Lepri*, M. Sforna*, E. Bellezza8 *Department of Biopathological Veterinary Science, University of Perugia, Italy. 8Department of Pathology, Diagnosis and Veterinary Clinic, University of Perugia, Italy.4 PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH OSSEOUS DURAL METAPLASIA, AN UNDERESTIMATED SPINAL SYNDROME. M.T. Mandara*, E. Lepri*, M. Sforna*, E. Bellezza8 *Department of Biopathological Veterinary Science, University of Perugia, Italy. 8Department of Pathology, Diagnosis and Veterinary Clinic, University of Perugia, Italy. Osseous Dural Metaplasia (ODM), also known as spinal ossifying pachimeningitis, is considered an age-related change in the dog. Though ODM is observed very frequently, the main functional and clinical implications of this dystrophic process merit further investigation. The results obtained from the examination of the spinal cord or intracanal biopsy in 51 dogs are reported. Twenty-six dogs showed clinical signs of spinal deficits, associated with ODM diagnosed by gross and/or bioptic examination. The remaining 25 dogs did not show any neurological spinal signs, and for this reason were considered as the control group. Of these, eleven dogs, including six German Shepherds and ten male dogs, with a mean age of 7.5 years, showed an incidental ODM at gross examination. Of the 26 clinical cases, ODM affected mostly German Shepherds and in ten cases the animals were under 5 years of age (38.5%). In eight cases myelography showed spinal compression, nevertheless ODM was not identified. In ten cases the spinal syndrome had an acute onset (38.5%), while in 16 cases it was chronic and slowly progressive. Spinal cord samples from 14 dogs with clinical spinal diseases were submitted to histological examination, routinely performed with H&E and Luxol fast blue. Spinal lesions ranging from myelin loss to a decreased number of axons and focal areas of leucomalacia, associated with islands of lamellar bone at times containing adipocytes and myeloid elements were found. In three cases, characterized by an acute onset of the spinal syndrome, the lesions consisted of necrosis and haemorrhages involving both the grey and white matter, while in four further cases, characterized by a slowly progressive spinal syndrome, a selective loss of spinal cord neurons was evident, along with white matter and spinal nerve root degeneration, as an expression of the compressive traumatic action of ODM. Therefore, in the present study osseous dural metaplasia was a cause of spinal syndrome in both old and young animals. Indeed, it confirms the predisposition of large canine breeds and shows the high prevalence of this dystrophic event in male dogs. Finally, ODM caused varying degrees of lesions suggesting ODM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of both acute and chronic onset ischemic and/or compressive spinal diseases and surgery encouraged. Abstract #5 CONGENITAL APLASIA OF VERTEBRAL ARTICULAR FACETS IN FOUR DOGS: RADIOGRAPHIC, MYELOGRAPHIC AND MR IMAGING FINDINGS. Penderis J1, Schwarz T2, McConnell F1, Garosi LS1, Thomson C3, Dennis R1 1Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK. 2Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. 3Department of Small Animal Clinical Studies, Glasgow Veterinary School, Glasgow, UK. Congenital anomalies of the vertebral column compromising vertebral column stability or impinging on neural structures are well described in the veterinary literature. The majority of these cases are associated with aberrations of one of the primary vertebral ossification centres. Clinically significant abnormalities of secondary vertebral ossification centres, particularly involving caudal articular processes, are much less frequently reported. In this study we describe three dogs with congenital aplasia of the caudal vertebral articular processes and one dog with congenital hypoplasia. Thoracolumbar spinal cord compression occurred in the cases of aplasia. In all three cases of aplasia, the animals presented with progressive pelvic limb ataxia and focal thoracolumbar pain occurred in two cases. No clinical signs were evident in the case with hypoplasia of the caudal vertebral articular processes. The radiographic appearance was similar in all cases, with aplasia or hypoplasia of the caudal articular facets at one or more intervertebral joints in the thoracolumbar region. The adjacent cranial articular facets were increased in size occupying the space of the absent caudal articular facets. Bone proliferation was evident secondary to an associated degenerative joint disease. This compensatory hyperplasia of the adjacent cranial articular facets protruded into the vertebral canal, resulting in a compressive myelopathy as demonstrated by myelography and MR imaging. The findings of this study indicate that congenital anomalies of the caudal articular facets occur in dogs, demonstrate typical imaging findings and that total absence of the caudal articular facets has a high association with neurological deficits. Abstract #6 SUSPECTED SPINAL CORD INFARCTION IN TWO SMALL BREED DOGS: MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS. F. Gruenenfelder1, D. Weishaupt2, F. Steffen1 1 Dept. for Small Animals, Neurology Services, University of Zurich, 2 Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland6 SUSPECTED SPINAL CORD INFARCTION IN TWO SMALL BREED DOGS: MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS. F. Gruenenfelder1, D. Weishaupt2, F. Steffen1 1 Dept. for Small Animals, Neurology Services, University of Zurich, 2 Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland Abstract #7 ANTERIOR FORAMINOTOMY AS A NEW TREATMENT MODALITY IN DEGENERATIVE LUMBOSACRAL DISEASE. T. Goedde, Tierärztliche Gemeinschaftspraxis, Piding; Germany.7 ANTERIOR FORAMINOTOMY AS A NEW TREATMENT MODALITY IN DEGENERATIVE LUMBOSACRAL DISEASE. T. Goedde, Tierärztliche Gemeinschaftspraxis, Piding; Germany. Abstract #8 STATUS EPILEPTICUS IN THE DOG: RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF 41 CASES. G. Gandini*, G. Fluehmann8, E. Brini*, S. Cizinauskas§, A. Jaggy 8 *Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia (Bologna), Italy. 8Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Animal Neurology Section—University of Berne, Switzerland. §Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Animal Neurology Service—University of Helsinki, Finland.8 STATUS EPILEPTICUS IN THE DOG: RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF 41 CASES. G. Gandini*, G. Fluehmann8, E. Brini*, S. Cizinauskas§, A. Jaggy 8 *Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia (Bologna), Italy. 8Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Animal Neurology Section—University of Berne, Switzerland. §Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Animal Neurology Service—University of Helsinki, Finland. Status epilepticus (SE) is a well known life-threatening condition in the dog.