Disorders of the Spinal Cord

Chapter 128 Disorders of the Spinal Cord



The term spinal cord disorders (see Table 128-1 for classification and examples) broadly refers to all diseases affecting the spinal cord. Clinically, spinal cord disorders may cause dysfunction in one or more limbs. Urinary and fecal incontinence and tail dysfunction may also be seen.


Table 128-1 CLASSIFICATION AND EXAMPLES OF SPINAL CORD DISORDERS






















































































Category Examples
Degenerative Globoid cell leukodystrophy
Degenerative myelopathy of German shepherds
Hereditary spinal muscular atrophy of Brittany spaniels
Hereditary ataxia of smooth-haired and Jack Russell terriers
Caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy
Anomalous Spinal dysraphism
Spina bifida
Myelodysplasia
Atlantoaxial subluxation
Hemivertebrae
Spinal arachnoid cysts
Caudal occipital malformation syndrome with syringohydromyelia
Neoplastic Intramedullary ependymoma
Intramedullary astrocytoma
Intramedullary oligodendroglioma
Extramedullary intradural meningioma
Extramedullary peripheral nerve sheath tumor
Lymphoma
Extradural vertebral osteosarcoma
Infectious Feline infectious peritonitis
Canine distemper myelitis
Rabies
Cryptococcosis
Rickettsial diseases
Neosporosis
Toxoplasmosis
Discospondylitis
Immune-mediated Granulomatous meningoencephalitis
Steroid-responsive meningitis/vasculitis
Toxic Tetanus
Strychnine
Traumatic Intervertebral disc herniation
Fracture/luxation of spinal column
Vascular Fibrocartilaginous embolization
Progressive hemorrhagic myelomalacia
Caudal aortic embolization




ETIOLOGY


Spinal cord disorders can arise from numerous insults and may be associated with particular signalments (breed, age, sex) and neuroanatomic localizations. Many of these disorders cause relatively predictable patterns of onset (acute versus chronic) and clinical signs (progressive versus nonprogressive).






Inflammation/Infection


Numerous infectious agents can affect the spinal cord and surrounding structures of animals of all breeds and ages. Clinical signs vary depending on the inciting agent, the location of the lesion, and the degree of spinal cord involvement. Signs are usually rapid in onset and progression. Often inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) is not confined to the spinal cord, and clinical signs of brain involvement will also be present (see Chapter 126).













CLINICAL SIGNS


Characteristic clinical signs of spinal cord injury include spinal pain or hyperpathia, proprioceptive deficits, paresis or plegia, and nociceptive (pain) loss.




Aug 27, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Disorders of the Spinal Cord

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