James Fingeroth & William Thomas 
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, neurologists, and general
practitioners.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

SECTION 1: INTERVERTEBRAL DISC STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

1. Embryology, innervation, morphology, structure andfunction of the canine intervertebral disc

2. Biomechanics of the intervertebral disc and spinal motionsegments

3. Comparisons between biped (human) and quadruped(canine/feline) discs and disc disease

SECTION 2: DISC DISEASE: DEGENERATIVE AND OTHERPATHOLOGY

4. Pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration in dogs

5. Historical and current nomenclature associated withintervertbral disc pathology

6. What is known about the incidence of disc disease inchondrodystrophoid 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 DISCDISEASE

12. History, neurologic examination, and neuroanatomiclocalization for spinal cord/nerve root disease

13. Spinal cord compression vs.spinal cord contusion secondaryto intervertebral disc herniation: A clinical perspective

14. ‚Discogenic’pain (signs associated with IVDD withoutherniation): 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 thevertebral 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 withsuspected IVDD

SECTION 4: NON-SURGICAL AND ADJUNCTIVE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OFIVDD

25. Steroid use in intervertebral disc disease

26. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants andopioids

27. Neuroprotective treatments for acute spinal cord injuryassociated with intervertebral disc herniation

28. Acupuncture/electroacupuncture

29. Activity and nursing care recommendations

SECTION 5: SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISCHERNIATION

30. What constitutes spinal cord decompression?

31. General principles of spinal surgery for intervertebral discherniation

32. Cervical disc disease: Ventral ’slot‘ vs. Lateral vs.Hemilaminectomy vs. Dorsal laminectomy approaches

33. Thoracolumbar disc disease: Dorsal vs. Lateral vs. Ventralapproaches, and what to do if I’m on the wrong side?

34. Lumbosacral disc disease: Is vertebral stabilizationindicated

35. Is there a role for durotomy during surgery forintervertebral disc herniation?

36. What should cover the bone defect afterlaminectomy/hemilaminectomy?

37. Prophylactic fenestration: Arguments in favor

38. Prophylactic fenestration: The potential argumentsagainst

39. Discography and (Chemo)nucleolysis

40. Laser disc ablation as an alternative to prophylacticfenestration

SECTION 6: POST-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

41. Physical therapy/rehabiliation for the paralyzed patient

42. Managing urine retention and incontinence in the paralyzedpatient

43. Nursing care needs for the paralyzed patient

SECTION 7: FUTURE DIRECTIONS

44. Minimally invasive techniques for spinal cord/nerve rootdecompression

45. Is there a role for disc prostheses in small animals?

Über den Autor

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.