Hydrated Nucleus Pulposus Extrusion (HNPE)
This disease is a form of intervertebral disc extrusion characterized by gelatinous/liquid extruded disk material.
Age of Onset: 8 years of age
Sex Predisposition: Any sex of animal can be affected
Clinical Course:
Acute onset, clinical signs typically do not progress after 24-48 hours
Acute onset, clinical signs typically do not progress after 24-48 hours
Clinical Signs:
Clinical signs will reflect the location of the lesion
Posture and Appearance
Painful postures such as limited movement of a body part
Movement
Varying degrees of limb dysfunction
Paresis or paralysis
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits
Spinal Reflexes
If the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion involves an area of the spinal cord known as intumescences, decreased to absent reflexes often result. When the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion 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
Intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion may result in spinal pain, however, this is not always consistent.
Pain Sensation
Depends on the degree of spinal disease. With severe spinal cord pathology, pain sensation may be lost caudal to the disease location.
Clinical signs will reflect the location of the lesion
Posture and Appearance
Painful postures such as limited movement of a body part
Movement
Varying degrees of limb dysfunction
Paresis or paralysis
Proprioception
Proprioceptive deficits
Spinal Reflexes
If the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion involves an area of the spinal cord known as intumescences, decreased to absent reflexes often result. When the intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion 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
Intervertebral disk extrusion/protrusion may result in spinal pain, however, this is not always consistent.
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
Unknown
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