Intervertebral Disc Disease

Question 1

What are the symptoms of disc disease affecting C1-C5?

Answer 1

Neck pain, muscle spasm, low head carriage
Nerve root signature- holding up paw with low cervical
Upper motor neuron dysfunction of thoracic and pelvic limb

Question 2

What are the symptoms of disc disease affecting C6-T2?

Answer 2

Neck pain

LMN forelimb and UMN hindlimb

Question 3

What are the symptoms of disc disease affecting T3-L3?

Answer 3

Back pain
Progresses through grades to paraparesis then plegia-UMN hindlimb
If motor function is lost, needs bladder expression.

T11-L2 is most common
(cranial to T10 unlikely-intercap lig)

Question 4

What are the symptoms of disc disease affecting L4-S3?

Answer 4

Lumbar pain, low tail carriage
Urinary and faecal in continence
LMN hindlimb

Most common type 2 at L7-S1

Question 5

Why are survey radiographs used?

Answer 5

To rule out
Discospondylitis
Fracture/luxation
Osteosarcoma

Question 6

What is a Hansen type 1 disease?

Answer 6

Dehydration and mineralisation result in sudden extrusion into the vertebral canal-
compression, contusion and inflammatory reaction

Question 7

What breeds are predisposed to Hansen type 1?

Answer 7

French bulldog
Dachshund

Older Labrador, GSD, Doberman, Rottweiler

Question 8

What is a Hansen type 2 disease?

Answer 8

Weakening and hypertrophy of AF, protruding into the canal. Causes chronic compression

Question 9

What breeds are predisposed to Hansen type 2?

Answer 9

Older, non-chondrodystrophic breeds