Schmorl's Node
A Schmorl's node is the result of extrusion of intervertebral disc nucleus puplosis into adjacent vertebral bodies through the vertebral endplate.
Age of Onset: Any age of animal can be affected
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Clinical signs may present acutely, and often will not progress over time.
Clinical signs may present acutely, and often will not progress over time.
Clinical Signs:
Posture and Appearance
Painful postures such as limited movement of a body part
Movement
Varying degrees of limb dysfunction
Proprioception
Paresis or paralysis
Spinal Reflexes
If the lesion involves an area of the spinal cord known as intumescences, decreased to absent reflexes often result. When the lesion involves other regions of the spinal cord, the spinal reflexes will be normal to increased.
Special Reflexes (e.g. cutaneous trunci)
May be abnormal if the disease occurs in the thoracolumbar spinal cord
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
With more severe spinal impairment, voluntary urination and defecation may be lost.
Painful Reactions
Inconsistent spinal pain
Pain Sensation
Depends on the degree of spinal disease. With severe spinal cord pathology, pain sensation may be lost caudal to the disease location.
Posture and Appearance
Painful postures such as limited movement of a body part
Movement
Varying degrees of limb dysfunction
Proprioception
Paresis or paralysis
Spinal Reflexes
If the lesion involves an area of the spinal cord known as intumescences, decreased to absent reflexes often result. When the lesion involves other regions of the spinal cord, the spinal reflexes will be normal to increased.
Special Reflexes (e.g. cutaneous trunci)
May be abnormal if the disease occurs in the thoracolumbar spinal cord
Special Functions (e.g. respiration; urination)
With more severe spinal impairment, voluntary urination and defecation may be lost.
Painful Reactions
Inconsistent spinal pain
Pain Sensation
Depends on the degree of spinal disease. With severe spinal cord pathology, pain sensation may be lost caudal to the disease location.
Spinal cord - variable (most commonly reported to affect L7 and S1 vertebral segments)
Unknown
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