Abstract
In human medicine there was no evidence registered of a significant difference in recovery between body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) and conventional over-ground (COGI). There isn't any similar study in veterinary medicine. Thus, this study aimed to compare the locomotor recovery obtained in incomplete SCI (T11–L3 Hansen type I) post-surgical dogs following BWSTT or COGI protocols, describing their evolution during 7 weeks in regard to OFS classifications. At admission, dogs were blindly randomized in two groups but all were subjected to the same protocol (underwater treadmill training) for the first 2 weeks. After, they were divided in the BWSTT group (n = 10) and the COGI group (n = 10) for the next 2 weeks, where they performed different training. In both groups locomotor training was accompanied by functional electrical stimulation (FES) protocols. Results reported statistically significant differences between all OFS evaluations time-points (p < 0.001) and between the two groups (p < 0.001). In particular with focus on T1 to T3 a two-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed and similar results were obtained (p = 0.007). Functional recovery was achieved in 90% (17/19) of all dogs and 100% recovered bladder function. The BWSTT group showed 100% (10/10) recovery within a mean time of 4.6 weeks, while the COGI group had 78% (7/9) within 6.1 weeks. Therefore, BWSTT leads to a faster recovery with a better outcome in general.
Highlights
Intervertebral degenerative hernia (IVDH) is the most common cause of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in dogs, with a prevalence as high as 19% in some breeds [1,2,3]
Dogs presenting with an acute history of thoracolumbar SCI with IVDH Hansen type I after hemilaminectomy at one or two sites were included
This study described the evolution of progress in 22 dogs throughout their functional neuro-rehabilitation (FNR) protocol over a 7-week period, according to the diagram in Figures 9, 10, and their evaluation using the Open Field Score (OFS) score
Summary
Intervertebral degenerative hernia (IVDH) is the most common cause of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in dogs, with a prevalence as high as 19% in some breeds [1,2,3]. IVDH Hansen type I results in mixed contusive and compressive injury [10,11,12] and causes both primary and secondary lesions [13]. This condition can benefit from decompressive surgery [14], in the case of dogs with rapidly deteriorating neurological status [15]
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