Spine · spinal cord · brain
Veterinary neurosurgery
Understand the diagnosis and explore treatment options.
Learn what each operation involves and what can be expected afterwards.
Neurosurgical procedures are performed bydr n. wet. Arkadiusz Olkowski
Decompression of the spinal cord and nerve roots
Procedures intended to relieve pressure on nervous structures. The surgical approach depends on the location and type of lesion.
HemilaminectomyDogs · Relieving pressure through a one-sided approach to the vertebral canal.
What does the procedure involve?
Part of the vertebral arch is removed on one side. This allows access to and removal of disc material pressing on the spinal cord. Hemilaminectomy is often performed for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease.
Assessment and procedure
The decision is based on a neurological examination and diagnostic imaging, usually MRI or CT. Depending on the lesion’s position, a less extensive approach, such as minihemilaminectomy, may be possible. Not every case of disc disease requires surgery.
Aftercare and prognosis
After surgery, care includes pain relief, restricted activity and individual rehabilitation. Some patients need help emptying their bladder. The speed and extent of improvement depend, among other factors, on spinal cord damage: decompression alone does not mean an immediate return of function.
LaminectomyDogs and cats · A dorsal approach and decompression of the vertebral canal.
What does the procedure involve?
Laminectomy involves removing part of the vertebral arch to expose the vertebral canal and relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. It can also provide access to remove a lesion in that area.
Assessment and procedure
Depending on the diagnosis, surgery may be considered for disc lesions, canal narrowing, cysts or tumours. The extent of surgery depends on the lesion’s location, neurological signs and MRI or CT findings.
Aftercare and prognosis
Care includes pain control, restricted movement and rehabilitation tailored to the patient. The outcome depends on the cause of compression and the condition of the nervous structures before surgery. Improvement may be gradual, and full recovery is not always possible.
CorpectomyDogs · Decompression by removing part of the vertebral bodies.
What does the procedure involve?
Partial lateral corpectomy provides access to compression on the ventral or ventrolateral side of the spinal cord in the thoracolumbar region. A window is created within parts of adjacent vertebral bodies, near the intervertebral disc.
Assessment and procedure
The procedure may be considered for chronic disc protrusion, particularly when another approach does not adequately relieve compression. Planning uses a neurological examination and MRI or CT. Unlike hemilaminectomy, surgery mainly involves the vertebral bodies rather than the vertebral arch.
Aftercare and prognosis
The aim is to decompress nervous structures, not to reconstruct the disc. Pain control, restricted activity and follow-up are needed afterwards. Prognosis and rehabilitation depend on the patient’s condition and the duration of disease.
Ventral slotDogs · Decompression of the cervical spinal cord.
What does the procedure involve?
Surgery is performed through the ventral side of the neck. A small window through the disc and parts of the adjacent vertebral bodies allows removal of disc material pressing on the spinal cord.
Assessment and procedure
Ventral slot surgery is used in selected cases of cervical disc disease. The site and extent are determined by neurological examination and MRI or CT. The window size must be chosen carefully to limit the risk of instability.
Aftercare and prognosis
Pain relief, quiet recovery and follow-up are important. Relieving pressure does not guarantee immediate resolution of neurological signs. Further care and prognosis depend on the extent of spinal cord damage.
Spinal stabilisation and deformities
Operations intended to restore stability, limit abnormal movement or correct selected deformities.
Stabilisation of atlantoaxial instabilityDogs · Treatment of an unstable joint between the first and second cervical vertebrae.
What does the procedure involve?
C1–C2 instability may be associated with an abnormal dens or ligaments, or with trauma. Abnormal movement in this area can compress the spinal cord. Surgery aims to position the vertebrae correctly and secure their connection.
Assessment and procedure
Planning uses neurological examination and appropriately selected X-rays, CT or MRI. Stabilisation may require a ventral or dorsal approach, implants and material to support bone fusion. The technique is chosen individually.
Aftercare and prognosis
Strict activity restriction and checks of the stabilisation are required after surgery. Rehabilitation depends on neurological status. Prognosis reflects, among other factors, the extent of spinal cord injury and is not the same for every patient.
Stabilisation for cervical spondylomyelopathyDogs · Treatment of selected cases of Wobbler syndrome.
What does the procedure involve?
Cervical spondylomyelopathy involves compression of the spinal cord and sometimes nerve roots in the neck. In selected cases, surgery distracts the space between vertebrae and maintains it through stabilisation to reduce compression and abnormal movement.
Assessment and procedure
Assessment is based on neurological findings and MRI or CT; where appropriate, the effect of movement on compression is also assessed. An intervertebral implant, screws and a plate may be used, with the aim of achieving fusion between vertebrae. Not every case requires the same technique.
Aftercare and prognosis
Restricted movement, follow-up and individual rehabilitation are needed after surgery. Permanent spinal cord damage may limit improvement. Treatment does not mean an immediate return to normal walking.
Stabilisation of lumbosacral instabilityDogs · Stabilisation of the L7–S1 junction.
What does the procedure involve?
Abnormal movement at the lumbosacral junction can cause pain and nerve root compression. Surgery aims to limit movement between the vertebrae and, if needed, is combined with decompression of nervous structures.
Assessment and procedure
Diagnosis and treatment selection require assessment of signs and MRI or CT: an abnormal image alone is not sufficient indication. Stabilisation may use screws, rods or bone cement. Depending on the lesion, laminectomy or widening of the intervertebral foramina may also be performed.
Aftercare and prognosis
The aim is lasting stability, sometimes with bone fusion. Activity is resumed gradually following check-ups. Recovery time and improvement depend on the patient’s condition and nerve damage.
Stabilisation of spinal fractures and dislocationsDogs · Surgical treatment of unstable spinal injuries.
What does the procedure involve?
Surgery may include realignment of displaced vertebrae, stabilisation with implants and decompression if nervous structures are compressed. The aim is to protect the spine against further abnormal movement.
Assessment and procedure
Management depends on the stability of the injury and neurological status. Diagnosis uses X-rays, CT and, in selected situations, MRI. The choice of screws, plates, rods, pins or cement depends on the type and site of injury.
Aftercare and prognosis
Suspected spinal injury requires urgent assessment and minimising movement of the animal. Follow-up and rehabilitation are needed after surgery. Bone stabilisation does not equate to reversing spinal cord damage; neurological prognosis is assessed individually.
Surgery for spinal deformitiesDogs · Treatment of selected congenital and acquired deformities.
What does the procedure involve?
Not every deformity requires surgery. Surgical treatment is considered when a lesion causes significant compression of nervous structures, instability or signs that require this approach.
Assessment and procedure
CT helps assess bone structure, while MRI assesses the spinal cord and surrounding tissues. Depending on the problem, surgery involves decompression, stabilisation, correction of alignment or a combination. Lasting fusion is often the aim.
Aftercare and prognosis
The extent of correction must take the safety of nervous structures into account. Aftercare includes restricted activity, follow-up and rehabilitation. Potential improvement depends on the type of deformity and neurological status before surgery.
Disorders of cerebrospinal fluid flow
Procedures for hydrocephalus, Chiari-like malformation, syringomyelia and subarachnoid cysts.
Surgery for Chiari-like malformationDogs · Decompression around the foramen magnum.
What does the procedure involve?
Chiari-like malformation can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid flow and occur alongside syringomyelia. Surgery increases the space at the junction of the skull and spine to reduce compression and improve conditions for fluid flow.
Assessment and procedure
Suitability is assessed using clinical signs and MRI. Depending on the case, decompression may be combined with opening or reconstruction of the dura and, in selected techniques, reconstruction of this region. Not every patient with this MRI finding requires surgery.
Aftercare and prognosis
The aim is to reduce symptoms and limit disease progression. Signs may not fully resolve or may recur, so further check-ups and sometimes medication are needed.
Surgery for syringomyeliaDogs · Treating the cause of disturbed fluid flow.
What does the procedure involve?
Syringomyelia is a cavity within the spinal cord. Surgery mainly targets the cause of disturbed cerebrospinal fluid flow rather than the cavity alone. Chiari-like malformation is a common cause.
Assessment and procedure
MRI defines the extent of changes and supports treatment planning. In suitable cases, foramen magnum decompression is used, sometimes with opening or reconstruction of the dura. Direct drainage of the cavity is an option in selected situations.
Aftercare and prognosis
Even after fluid flow improves, the cavity may not fully shrink, and signs may persist or recur. Follow-up and further treatment depend on the patient’s response; complete reversal of neurological changes cannot be guaranteed.
Surgery for hydrocephalusDogs · Draining excess fluid from the brain’s ventricles.
What does the procedure involve?
Selected patients receive a ventriculoperitoneal shunt that drains fluid from a brain ventricle into the peritoneal cavity. The aim is to control excessive fluid accumulation and its consequences.
Assessment and procedure
Suitability requires combined assessment of clinical signs and imaging, usually MRI or CT. Ventricle size alone does not determine the need for surgery. The course and settings of the drainage system are tailored to the patient.
Aftercare and prognosis
The system requires monitoring. Possible problems include blockage, displacement or disconnection of the catheter, infection, and too little or excessive drainage. Further surgery may be necessary. Pre-existing brain damage can limit improvement.
Surgery for a subarachnoid cystDogs · Relieving pressure and improving fluid flow around the spinal cord.
What does the procedure involve?
A subarachnoid cyst or diverticulum can compress the spinal cord and disturb cerebrospinal fluid flow. Surgery aims to decompress the cord and restore communication between fluid spaces.
Assessment and procedure
The lesion is assessed by MRI. Surgery may involve opening the cyst or partially removing its wall; complete removal is not always possible or necessary. The approach and extent depend on its location.
Aftercare and prognosis
Neurological function is assessed after surgery and rehabilitation is tailored accordingly. Recurrence is possible, and improvement depends in part on the duration and severity of compression. Follow-up imaging may be needed.
Biopsies and treatment of tumours
Tissue diagnosis and surgical treatment of selected brain and spinal cord lesions.
Brain biopsyDogs · Taking a small sample for histopathological diagnosis.
What does the procedure involve?
A biopsy helps establish the nature of a lesion when imaging alone does not provide enough information and the result could affect further treatment. It is not the same as an operation to remove a tumour.
Assessment and procedure
The sampling site and route are planned using MRI or CT. Under general anaesthesia, a tissue sample is taken through a small opening in the skull. The technique depends on the lesion’s position and patient safety.
Aftercare and prognosis
Risks include bleeding, swelling and neurological deterioration. The sample may sometimes be insufficient for a definitive diagnosis. The patient needs monitoring afterwards, and further management depends on the result.
Removal of brain tumoursDogs · Tumour resection with consideration for the safety of nervous tissue.
What does the procedure involve?
Surgery aims to remove the lesion as safely as possible and reduce its effect on the surrounding brain. Not every tumour can be fully removed: in some cases, only reduction in size is possible.
Assessment and procedure
Access through the skull is planned using MRI and neurological examination. Feasibility and extent depend on factors including the lesion’s location, size and nature. Removed tissue is sent for histopathology.
Aftercare and prognosis
Neurological monitoring and follow-up, sometimes including MRI, are required. The tumour may recur, and some patients need additional treatment, such as radiotherapy. Prognosis depends on the diagnosis and the extent of safe resection.
Removal of spinal cord tumoursDogs · Treatment of lesions within the vertebral canal and spinal cord.
What does the procedure involve?
Surgical options depend on whether the tumour is outside the dura, inside it but outside the cord, or within the spinal cord itself. The aim is to remove the lesion or reduce pressure while limiting the risk of additional neurological damage.
Assessment and procedure
Planning is primarily based on MRI; CT and tests to assess disease extent may also be needed. Access may require laminectomy or hemilaminectomy. Complete removal may be impossible if the tumour is closely associated with nervous tissue.
Aftercare and prognosis
Histopathology helps plan further treatment. Depending on the diagnosis, additional or palliative treatment may be considered. Rehabilitation and follow-up are tailored to neurological status; full recovery is not always achievable.
See also: Neurology consultations · MRI · Computed tomography in Milanówek