Ventral Decompression of the Cervical Spinal Cord in the Dog

Cervical intervertebral disc herniation (CIDH) occurs most commonly in the chrondrodystrophic breeds of dogs. It is usually associated with degeneration of the disc and calcification of the nucleus pulposus which allows this disc material to herniate. Clinical signs such as pain, ataxia, careful placement of feet when walking, and sometimes paralysis are seen. In cases of partial or complete paralysis three surgical treatments are available: ventral fenestration, dorsal laminectomy, ventral decompression. Ventral decompression provides good surgical exposure and relieves pressure on the cervical spinal cord