Fibro-cartilaginous embolism

The Fibrokartilaginöse embolism ( faserknorplige embolism) is a special form of spinal cord infarction and a common condition in dogs . The infarction of the spinal cord is triggered by the penetration of fiber cartilage into the blood vessels . The disease can occur in all breeds of dogs , but it is increasingly observed in older animals of large breeds. Fibro-cartilaginous embolism rarely occurs in domestic cats .

Emergence

In fibrocartilaginous embolism, fibrous cartilage material from the intervertebral discs of the spine gets into the spinal cord branches of the blood vessels. How this happens is not yet clear. The intervertebral disc material leads to an obstruction of the lumen of the blood vessels and thus to an infarction of the corresponding spinal cord segment. Due to the now existing oxygen deficiency , there is a cell death in the white and gray matter in the spinal cord.

Clinical picture

A fibrocartilaginous embolism usually develops acutely or even peracute . The clinical picture depends on the location and extent of the infarction. The cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal cord are most commonly affected. The symptoms of deficiency are often one-sided and can consist of paralysis ( hemiparesis ) and loss of sensitivity . In severe infarcts, parapareses (paralysis of both hind limbs) and tetraparesis (paralysis of all limbs) are also possible.

diagnosis

Since magnetic resonance imaging is rarely available in veterinary medicine, the diagnosis is made using the elimination process.

Acute trauma to the spinal cord and a herniated disc via myelography must be excluded from the more common diseases . The meningitis-arteritis of the dog never shows acute paralysis, these develop gradually, as in tumors of the spinal cord and degenerative myelopathy . A myelitis can with examination of the cerebrospinal fluid of a production and blood counts are excluded. The wobbler disease develops gradually and is rather by ataxias characterized as by paralysis and can by means of X-ray to be diagnosed and myelography. In cauda equina syndrome ( degenerative lumbosacral stenosis ), pain and pathological reflexes dominate , paralysis is rare, acute never occurs.

Much rarer spinal cord disorders in dogs may also need to be considered. The Meningitis can with an Liquor investigation, Diskospondylitis be investigated by X-ray. The symptoms of atlanto-axial subluxation develop insidiously and the disease mostly affects young animals of dwarf breeds.

Therapy and prognosis

There is no effective therapy . In the initial phase the administration of anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids ( prednisolone , dexamethasone ) can be tried in the further course with physiotherapy to improve the condition. The prognosis depends on the degree of failure symptoms; if pain is not perceived , it is rather poor. There is usually little hope that the paralysis will regress, euthanasia should be considered in these cases.

literature

• Andre Jaggy: Atlas and textbook of small animal neurology . Schlütersche 2005, ISBN 3-87706-739-5

See also

VETAMIN D

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !