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Aplastic Articular Facets in a Dog With Intervertebral Disk Rupture of the 12th to 13th Thoracic Vertebral Space

From the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2026.

Address all correspondence to Dr. Breur.

A 6-year-old, female spayed Pomeranian was presented with acute hind-limb paraplegia with the presence of deep pain perception and urinary incontinence. Myelography showed a Hansen type I herniation of the12th to 13th thoracic intervertebral space (T_12–13). Articular facets of the T_12–13 and T₁₃ to first lumbar vertebra (L₁) were absent. The spinal cord was decompressed using a bilateral T_12–13 modified lateral hemilaminectomy (pediculectomy). The aplastic sites were associated with minimal instability of the vertebral column, and stabilization of the vertebral column was not required. Familiarity with this condition is important, because articular facet aplasia may cause vertebral instability and may require an adjusted surgical approach or vertebral reduction and fusion following decompression.