Advances in Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs and Cats

Advances in Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs and Cats defines our present knowledge of this common clinical problem, compiling information related to the canine and feline intervertebral disc into a single resource.  As a comprehensive, focused work, the book is an authoritative reference for understanding and treating disc disease, providing a sound scientific and clinical basis for decision making.   Offering an objective synthesis of the current literature, the book supplies guidance on the approach to a potential disc rupture, surgical and medical strategies, and management of the patient. Offering a complete understanding of intervertebral disc disease, the book describes and discusses the controversies and issues surrounding this topic, acknowledging the gaps in our knowledge.  Advances in Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs and Cats presents up–to–date, reliable information on this common condition for veterinary surgeons and general practitioners. Key features Describes the current knowledge of disc disease in dogs and cats Provides a state–of–the–art, complete resource focused entirely on this common clinical problem Gives an objective picture of the controversies around intervertebral disc disease in canine and feline patients Presents evidence–based and clinically relevant information for understanding and treating intervertebral disc disease Offers clear clinical recommendations grounded in the current literature Part of the Advances in Veterinary Surgery series copublished with the ACVS Foundation

SECTION 1: INTERVERTEBRAL DISC STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION 1. Embryology, innervation, morphology, structure and function of the canine intervertebral disc 2. Biomechanics of the intervertebral disc and spinal motion segments 3. Comparisons between biped (human) and quadruped (canine/feline) discs and disc disease SECTION 2: DISC DISEASE: DEGENERATIVE AND OTHER PATHOLOGY 4. Pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs 5. Historical and current nomenclature associated with intervertbral disc pathology 6. What is known about the incidence of disc disease in chondrodystrophoid dogs? 7. Why do discs displace? 8. Spondylosis deformans and related conditions 9. Feline disc disease 10. Is "Wobbler" disease related to disc disease? 11. What is fibrocartilagenous embolism and is it related to IVDD? SECTION 3: CLINICAL FEATURES OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE 12. History, neurologic examination, and neuroanatomic localization for spinal cord/nerve root disease 13. Spinal cord compression vs.spinal cord contusion secondary to intervertebral disc herniation: A clinical perspective 14. "Discogenic"pain (signs associated with IVDD without herniation): Does it occur? 15. Traumatic disc extrusion 16. Deep pain: How should test and interpret nociception? 17. Imaging studies for the diagnosis of IVDD: Radiography, Myelography, Computed Tomography, CT–Myelography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging 18. The role of non–imaging–based diagnostic studies for IVDD 19. Disc neoplasia 20. Discospondylitis and related infectious disorders of the vertebral column 21. Ascending/Descending myelomalacia secondary to IVDD 22. When should dogs be referred for surgical management? 23. Recurrent disc herniation 24. Client communications when confronted with a patient with suspected IVDD SECTION 4: NON–SURGICAL AND ADJUNCTIVE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF IVDD 25. Steroid use in intervertebral disc disease 26. Non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and opioids 27. Neuroprotective treatments for acute spinal cord injury associated with intervertebral disc herniation 28. Acupuncture/electroacupuncture 29. Activity and nursing care recommendations SECTION 5: SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATION 30. What constitutes spinal cord decompression? 31. General principles of spinal surgery for intervertebral disc herniation 32. Cervical disc disease: Ventral "slot" vs. Lateral vs. Hemilaminectomy vs. Dorsal laminectomy approaches 33. Thoracolumbar disc disease: Dorsal vs. Lateral vs. Ventral approaches, and what to do if I′m on the wrong side? 34. Lumbosacral disc disease: Is vertebral stabilization indicated 35. Is there a role for durotomy during surgery for intervertebral disc herniation? 36. What should cover the bone defect after laminectomy/hemilaminectomy? 37. Prophylactic fenestration: Arguments in favor 38. Prophylactic fenestration: The potential arguments against 39. Discography and (Chemo)nucleolysis 40. Laser disc ablation as an alternative to prophylactic fenestration SECTION 6: POST–OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT 41. Physical therapy/rehabiliation for the paralyzed patient 42. Managing urine retention and incontinence in the paralyzed patient 43. Nursing care needs for the paralyzed patient SECTION 7: FUTURE DIRECTIONS 44. Minimally invasive techniques for spinal cord/nerve root decompression 45. Is there a role for disc prostheses in small animals?

James M. Fingeroth, DVM, DACVS, is Senior Staff Surgeon at the Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center in Orchard Park, New York, USA. William B. Thomas , DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) is Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.