Disc Fenestration and Other Information

[Kari]

There have been some questions about what disc fenestration exactly is, so I wanted to post a link to some good information. The doctor that did Penny's surgery wrote a paper on IVDD that I came across tonight while I was doing some research!

Disc Fenestration:
Sometimes disc fenestrations are performed. This is a prophylactic procedure to reduce the incidence of disc herniations at a later date although it is not a guarantee. A small window is cut in the disc and the inner portion (nucleus pulposus) is removed with special instruments. Fenestrations are usually performed in the cervical region from C2- C3 second and third cervical vertebrae) through C5-C6 or C6-C7. Fenestrations are usually performed in the thoracolumbar region from T11-T12 (eleventh and twelfth thoracic vertebrae) to L3-L4 (third and fourth lumbar vertebrae).

Link to her paper: http://www.vshsd.com/For_Veterinarians-Articles_&_Papers/Disc%20Disease%20RLevitskiOsgoodDVM.pdf
Other good general information with pictures: http://lbah.com/canine/ivd.htm

[Valerie]

Thanks for the information.  I know they did this on some of the other healthy disks in Cookie's back, and I wasn't sure what they were talking about.

[TerriL]

Thanks for posting this Kari.  I had wondered what Disc Fenestration was as well. 

[Kari]

No problem...just thought it was interesting information  :thumb:

[Bratpak and Lauri]

Great info - thanks Kari.  Simson had a fenestration 3 years ago on T5 - T12.  Very succesful.

Here's another excellent link:
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/neuro/discdis.html