Hemilaminectomia toracolombar para tratamento de extrusão discal em felino- relato de caso

Abstract

Intervertebral disc herniation is a condition caused by dysfunction of the intervertebral disc, leading to the leakage of disc material into the spinal canal, resulting in compression and damage to the spinal cord. This spinal cord injury leads to various neurological alterations, depending on the location, severity, and progression of the condition. It is considered rare in the feline species, occurring in only 0.26% of the population, with a higher frequency in the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral regions. Definitive diagnosis is achieved through a combination of history, clinical examination, and imaging test results. There are two treatment options: conservative (medical) or surgical. The primary indication for surgical treatment is in cases where the animal no longer exhibits ambulation. Hemilaminectomy is one of the commonly used techniques for ventrolateral decompression of the spinal canal. This study aims to report the case of a 5-year-old male neutered domestic cat with non-ambulatory paraparesis, diagnosed with disc extrusion in the thoracolumbar region (L1-L2). The cat underwent a surgical procedure involving right-sided thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy for the treatment of the pathology. The patient showed neurological improvement, and ambulation was observed by the 10th day postoperatively, with progressive improvement in clinical signs. After a year and a half, the cat exhibited normal locomotion and behavior for its species. The technique of thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy was effective as a curative method for disc extrusion in this patient.