Investigations of the therapeutic and prophylactic effects of disc evacuation in cases of thoraco-lumbar herniated discs in dogs.

The author describes a method for the fenestration and evacuation of degenerated discs in the thoraco-lumbar region of the dog using a lateral approach. This lateral approach makes it possible to reach the entire area of the nucleus pulposus. With the method described, all of the discs in the region of T/T—L/L can be evacuated at the same time. The author presents 88 operated cases which showed light or moderate signs of thoraco-lumbar disc herniation, i.e. dogs which displayed pain and/or varying grades of paresis, but retained the ability to walk on their hind legs. The author compares the results of this surgical treatment with the results of the conservative treatment of 128 cases. No significant difference in respect to the mean recovery time was seen between the 2 groups, but the progression of the attack into paraplegia did not occur in the surgically treated material, while such a progression was seen in 4 cases in the conservative material. The greatest value of the disc evacuation, according to the author's investigations, seems to be its prophylactic effect against recurrence. If all of the radiologically degenerated discs in the affected area are evacuated, it appears that one achieves almost complete prophylaxis for some years.