Surgical repair of a thoracic meningocele in a foal.
Abstract: A 6 week old American Paint filly was admitted for evaluation of a dorsal thoracic mass suspected to be a meningocele. The diagnosis was confirmed by plain and contrast enhanced computed tomography. Surgical repair was performed by dissection of the base of the meningocele followed by ligation. No postoperative complications occurred. Contrast enhanced computed tomography was useful to confirm the diagnosis of meningocele and rule out a meningomyelocele.
Publication Date: 1999-12-03 PubMed ID: 10582748DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1999.00496.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper details the surgical repair of a thoracic meningocele, a rare spinal defect, in a young American Paint filly.
Overview of the Research
- The research paper focuses on an unusual case of a 6-week-old American Paint filly, a foal breed common in the United States, which was admitted for the evaluation of a dorsal thoracic mass suspected to be a meningocele.
- A meningocele is a rare type of spinal birth defect. It refers to a fluid-filled sac that extends through an abnormal opening in the spine, but does not involve the spinal cord.
- A meningomyelocele, on the other hand, is a more severe type of spinal defect where the protective layers around the spinal cord bulge out of the child’s back, along with the spinal cord itself. In this case, diagnosis confirmed that the filly had a meningocele and not a meningomyelocele.
Diagnosis
- The diagnosis of a meningocele in this filly was confirmed with the help of plain and contrast enhanced computed tomography. Computed tomography, also known as CT scan, uses a series of X-rays to create detailed images of the inside structures of the body.
- Contrast-enhanced means that a dye was injected into the blood, and this dye helped to further highlight the structures during the CT scan. This was especially useful in ruling out the possibility of a meningomyelocele and confirming that it was indeed a meningocele.
Surgical Repair
- The surgical repair was performed by dissecting the base of the meningocele, most likely to separate the sac from the spinal structure, followed by ligation – a process of tying off the sac to stop fluid accumulation and promote healing.
- According to the research paper, the surgical procedure did not lead to any complications, indicating that it was successful.
Significance of the Research
- This research paper shines light on the successful treatment of a rare spinal defect in foals, providing a useful reference for similar veterinary cases in the future.
- It emphasizes the relevance and reliability of computed tomography for diagnosis in such cases.
- The research also underscores the importance of surgical intervention in curing meningocele and preventing potential complications.
Cite This Article
APA
van Hoogmoed L, Yarbrough TB, Lecouteur RA, Hornof WJ.
(1999).
Surgical repair of a thoracic meningocele in a foal.
Vet Surg, 28(6), 496-500.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1999.00496.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Meningocele / diagnostic imaging
- Meningocele / surgery
- Meningocele / veterinary
- Thoracic Vertebrae
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Arencibia A, Corbera JA, Ramírez G, Díaz-Bertrana ML, Pitti L, Morales M, Jaber JR. Anatomical Assessment of the Thorax in the Neonatal Foal Using Computed Tomography Angiography, Sectional Anatomy, and Gross Dissections. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 17;10(6).
- Tsuka T, Usaki N, Hatanaka M, Murahata Y, Takeuchi T, Sunden Y, Morita T, Okamoto Y, Tanaka M, Izawa T, Kuwamura M, Yamagishi N. Imaging of a subcutaneous abscessation in the back of a calf with hindlimb paralysis. Open Vet J 2024 Aug;14(8):2097-2109.
- Bedford S, Appleby R, Goodman L, Lack A, Castillo G. Meningoencephalocele and supernumerary ectopic limb arising from the occipital bone in a Jacob sheep lamb. Can Vet J 2023 Oct;64(10):919-922.
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