Efficacy of spinal fixation versus medical management in dogs with traumatic posterior paralysis

The efficacy of medical and surgical treatment for traumatic posterior paralysis was evaluated in 18 dogs presented to the College Hospital. Twelve dogs were subjected to modified spinal stapling with tension band wiring with or without hemiaminectomy and six were subjected to conservative management with the epidural use of methylprednisolone acetate, B complex vitamins, cage rest and ultrasound physiotherapy of the affected region @ 1.5 Watts per square centimeters for 10 min. Nine out of the 12 dogs (75%) treated surgically became ambulatory, whereas only two out of six (33.33%) dogs treated medically became ambulatory by the 60th post-operative day. This indicated that surgical treatment improved the chances of recovery in dogs with traumatic posterior paralysis as compared to those treated medically. However, 66% of the dogs with intervertebral disc disease treated medically became ambulatory indicating that the treatment protocol adopted may be effective for the treatment of paraplegia due to intervertebral disc disease in dogs where compression of the spinal cord was not too severe.