Setting the Standard for Surgical Care

East Dallas

12101 Greenville Ave, Suite 114Dallas, Texas 75243T 972.267.8200F 214.751.7951

Grapevine

2700 W. Highway 114Grapevine, Texas 76051

T 817.379.5444 F 817.379.0222

North Dallas

4444 Trinity Mills Rd., Suite 203Dallas, Texas 75287T 972.267.8100 F 972.267.8700

Plano

10225 Custer Rd.Plano, Texas 75025T 214.667.2233T 214.667.2250

www.DFWVetSurgeons.com

Percutaneous Laser DiscAblation (PLDA) is a minimallyinvasive prophylactic proce-dure for thoracolumbar disc

disease. This procedurewas developed by Dr.Kenneth E. Bartels atOklahoma StateUniversity. Thousandsof dogs have undergonepercutaneous disc abla-tion since the procedurewas clinically intro-duced in 1993. PLDA isrecommended as a

prophylactic procedure toreduce the risk of extrusion of nucleus pulposus into thespinal canal. It is intended fordogs with a prior history ofthoracolumbar disc disease ordogs that are at a high risk(chondrodystrophic breeds) of disc rupture. The procedurehas been found to be over 97%effective with only 9 dogs(2.6%) over a 10 year period

having recurrence of parapare-sis or paralysis that requiredsurgical intervention. All ninedogs recovered uneventfully.

Procedure Description

1. A surgeon meets with thepet owner to explain theprocedure, benefits, risksand perioperative care.

2. Dogs are given a pre-surgi-cal evaluation, anesthetized,and aseptically prepared forlaser disc ablation. Thedorsolateral aspect of theleft upper lumbar areaextending from the caudalthoracic to the caudallumbar spinal column is the

NEWS FLASHDallas Veterinar y Surgical Center 2012

PLDA is

recommended

to reduce the

risk of disc

extrusion into

the spinal canal.

PERCUTANEOUS LASER DISC ABLATION

DVSCDVSC

News Flash is a special publication of the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center, created

to highlight innovative procedures, special newsworthy events, and ground-breaking

technology offered by our practice. In this issue the DVSC is proud to announce

that we now offer a new procedure, Percutaneous Laser Disc Ablation (PLDA).

site for percutaneous needleinsertion.

3. Seven myelographic/spinalneedles are placed percuta-neously into the center of discspaces (T10-11 to L3-4). Afluoroscope is used to visualizeplacement of the needles.

4. A holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG)laser is used to vaporize thenucleus pulposus by placingthe laser fiber through theneedle into the disc space.The laser is activated and thedisc material is vaporized andcoagulated which stabilizesthe nucleus of the disc, in

theory, so it no longer has apropensity to herniate in thefuture.

Indications

Candidates for PLDA are dogsthat have a history of disc diseasethat have recovered from eithersurgery or medical managementand are neurologically stable, anddogs that are in a very high riskgroup such as Dachshunds(chondrodystrophic breeds).Dogs that are exhibiting lumbarpain but are not neurologicallyaffected should be treated withmedical management and shouldbe pain free and drug free for aminimum of 2 weeks.

Perioperative Care

Dogs are normally admitted intothe hospital and standard pre-surgical workup is performed aswarranted for each dog (bloodwork and spinal radiographs).Patients typically stay one nightand are discharged with NSAIDSand Tramadol. The dogs shouldbe kept under strict cageconfinement for the next 2-3

PERCUTANEOUS LASER DISC ABLATION

weeks and then may slowly return tonormal activity over a 1-2 weekperiod.

Interested? Please call the DVSC-North Dallas office if you have questions, would like more informa-tion, or want to refer a patient forPLDA consultation.

Resources:

Bartels KE. Prophylactic laser disc ablationin dogs at Oklahoma State University.Veterinary Medicine July 2007: 440-442.

Bartels KE, Higbee RG, Bahr RJ, et al.Outcome of and complications associatedwith prophylactic percutaneous laser discablation in dogs with thoracolumbar discdisease: 277 cases (1992-2001). J Am Vet MedAssoc 2003; 222:1733-1739.

DVSC Surgeons

Robert D. Barstad, DVM, MSSmall Animal Surgery

Scott G. Bertrand, DVMDiplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Sarah K. Bisgard, DVMDiplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Joanne N. Franks, DVMDiplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Douglas N. Lange, DVMDiplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Robert M. Radasch, DVM, MSDiplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

H. Fulton Reaugh, DVMDiplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Brent E. Wilkens, DVMDiplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Katherine L. Wells, DVMSmall Animal Surgery