Surgical treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology, clinical findings, and long-term outcome of surgical treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 131 client-owned dogs with DLSS. METHODS: The medical records of dogs with DLSS treated by dorsal laminectomy and dorsal fenestration were reviewed. The clinical diagnosis had been verified by diskography, epidurography or myelography, or a combination thereof. RESULTS: The German shepherd breed was over-represented (56.5%), and males were more often affected than females (2:1). Historically, reluctance or pain when jumping, rising from a prone position, or climbing stairs (92.4%) and signs of pain or stiffness during extensive physical activity (85.5%) were the most frequent concerns. The most common physical and neurologic examination findings were pain in the lumbosacral area during hyperextension (97.7%) and on direct digital palpation (84.7%). A total of 93.2% of the dogs were improved clinically within the follow-up period (mean 26 +/- 17 months). Recurrence of clinical signs resembling DLSS was reported by the owner or diagnosed by clinical examination in 17.6% of the dogs with a mean onset of signs at 18 +/- 13 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of DLSS with dorsal laminectomy and fenestration generally resulted in good to excellent clinical outcome.