Successful conservative management of epidural gas accumulation and haematoma formation following a lateral corpectomy in a dog

A 9-year-8-month-old, male, neutered labrador crossbreed dog was presented for evaluation of a chronic, progressive pelvic limb ataxia and thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia. The patient was diagnosed with a T12-T13 intervertebral disc protrusion and treated surgically with a lateral corpectomy procedure. After an initial post-operative improvement, the dog acutely deteriorated to the point of severe non-ambulatory paraparesis, with recurrence of thoracolumbar hyperaesthesia. A computed tomography scan revealed the presence of epidural gas accumulation and haematoma at the corpectomy site, causing moderate spinal cord compression. The patient was treated conservatively with strict rest and analgesia with subsequent neurological improvement. At the recheck appointment 6 weeks after surgery, the dog had demonstrated improvement from its pre-surgical neurological status.