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
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.
Thanks for posting this Kari. I had wondered what Disc Fenestration was as well.
No problem...just thought it was interesting information :thumb:
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