Surgical treatment of lumbosacral stenosis caused by bacterial discospondylitis in a great dane dog

Abstract

A 6-year-old, 26 kg spayed female Great Dane presented with back pain and hindlimb paresis. On neurological examination, severe pain was detected on the lumbosacral joint displaying nerve-root signature. The animal presented with lower motor neuron paresis with normal deep pain perception. Radiographic examination revealed narrowing of the lumbosacral joint disc space with endplate destructive lysis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral joint revealed a cauda equina compression, especially on the left. On T2 and T1-weighted images, a mass sized 1 × 1 cm was identified laterally to the left of the lumbosacral joint with hyperintense signal. The lumbosacral joint was stabilized by applying the dorsal distraction fixation-fusion technique and dorsal laminectomy. The soft tissue mass was removed, and a bacterial culture was performed. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. were detected and discospondylitis was treated with clindamycin for 6 weeks. The patient showed clinical improvement without pain and hindlimb paresis until 6 months follow-up postoperatively. ? 2021, Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics. All rights reserved.