Diário da Espinha

Early Locomotor Training in Post-Surgical Tetraplegic Canines with Cervical Intervertebral Disc Disease

Abstract

Paul Hacein

Locomotors training, also known as LT, is a form of task-specific, repetitive training that includes intense exercises that help neuromuscular reorganization and sensorimotor stimulation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether LT could be safely started in tetraplegic C1–C5 IVDD—Hansen type I dogs within three to fifteen days of surgery. This prospective, blinded clinical study included 114 grade 1 (MFS/OFS) dogs from two rehabilitation centers in Portugal. The dogs were divided into the SHG (spinal hyperesthesia group) (n=74) and the NSHG (non-spinal hyperesthesia group) (n=40) based on the presence of spinal hyperesthesia. Three observers evaluated the dogs at each time point for two weeks using a neuro rehabilitation checklist to see if there was an inter-agreement Within 15 days, LT was safely applied to 62.3% of OFS 11 and 32.4 % of these patients achieved an OFS 13.In the NSHG, there were no new cases of hyperesthesia and all of the SHG patients recovered. When groups were compared, there was a significant difference in their capacity to attain ambulatory status (p 0.001), between the presence of hyperesthesia and the number of days until ambulation (p 0.006) and at each time point (p 0.001;R2=0.809).These dogs may benefit from early LT, which should be administered within the first three days. The rehabilitation team should place a high priority on spinal hyperesthesia. The research should continue.