Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2016, 8th- 10th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. III, No. 1s  ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Chemonucleolysis, lumbosacral 

disk, fluoroscopy, cauda equine 

syndrome 

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Maurizio Longo 

maurizio.longo@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Therapeutic chemonucleolysis of the 

lumbosacral disk in a cadaveric model: 

lateral vs sternal technique. 

 

M. Longo*a, D. D. Zania, D. De Zania, P. Riccabonia, M. Di 

Giancamilloa  

 

 

aDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria (DIMEVET), Università degli Studi di 
Milano, Az.Polo Veterinario di Lodi, Via dell’Università n.6 Lodi, Italia 

 

Abstract 

The widespread use of advanced Imaging techniques has dramatically improved the diagnosis of cauda 

equina syndrome in geriatric small animal patients. Two different techniques (sternal vs lateral 

recumbency) were tested in twelve cadavers for the L7-S1 disk injection under fluoroscopic guidance. 

Twelve dogs were enrolled in the study: eight intervertebral lumbosacral disks were injected with a 

gelatinous radiopaque compound and the remnants four disks with an alcoholic radiopaque solution. 

The dogs were randomly positioned either in lateral recumbency with the lumbo-sacral joint in neutral 

position (six dogs), or in sternal recumbency with the hind limbs extended cranially along the body and 

the lumbosacral joint flexed (six dogs). The correct injection of the compounds within the lumbosacral 

disk was checked both by computed tomography (CT) and gross anatomic examination. The lateral 

technique required less time of execution and minor attempts for the correct positioning of the needle. 

All the injected disks were visible on CT, while necroscopy resulted satisfactory only in five patients. 

Leakage of the compounds outside the disk was observed in two cases. The percutaneous injection in 

lateral recumbency under fluoroscopic guidance resulted rapid and feasible in a cadaveric model. Future 

clinical trials are required to assess the safety of chemonucleolysis in diseased patients. 

 

References 

MacKenzie SD, Caswell JL, Brisson BA, Gaitero L, Chalmers HJ. Comparison between computed tomography, fluoroscopy, and 

ultrasonography for guiding percutaneous injection of the canine intervertebral disc. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2014 Sep-Oct; 

55(5); 571-81. 

Meij BP, Bergknut N. Degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2010 Sep; 40(5): 983-

1009. 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en