Super Vets

Episode 10

Tommy's second surgery

Last week

In last week’s episode Tommy underwent emergency surgery for a slipped disc that was compressing his spine and causing paralysis. Three days after his surgery he suddenly once again lost the use of his hind legs. Further compression of the spinal cord was suspected.

Diagnosis

Tommy had an MRI scan to identify where the new compression was located. The compression was at the same site as a few days earlier. More material had leaked out from the original disc. This is a rare event which happens in a small percentage of cases.

Surgery and Recovery

Tommy recovering at home in the garden. During surgery this time one large piece of material was found to be compressing the spine. This was carefully removed along with a few other tiny pieces. Tommy’s recovery after surgery was much slower this time. He showed little movement in his hind legs five days after surgery, and so a program of hydrotherapy was introduced. In the RVC’s hydrotherapy pool Tommy was encouraged to swim while wearing a mini lifejacket to make him float.

One of the nurses joined him in the pool to reassure and assist him, and with the water supporting his weight it was clear that Tommy still had good movement in his legs. They were just too weak to support his weight on land. To help strengthen Tommy’s muscles he began receiving physiotherapy 3-4 times a day.

With Tommy making progress, albeit slowly, his vets decided to send him home. His owners would continue to carry out some of the physiotherapy exercises on a daily basis, as well as bring him back to swim in the hydrotherapy pool.

One month after discharge from hospital Tommy had a check-up with vet Holger Volk who was pleased with the progress Tommy had made. He was walking again and using all four legs well, but still a little weak at times on his hind legs. It is expected that with time and continued exercise, this weakness will improve.

Episode 10 of Supervets was originally broadcast on BBC1
at 8.30pm on Wednesday 3 May 2006