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Berthomé et al: Recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion in 55 dogs after surgical decompression with or without prophylactic fenestration
Veterinary Surgery 6, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Prophylactic fenestration (PF) significantly reduced recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion (0% vs. 37.8%, p < .001).
  • Surgery time was longer with PF (median 182 vs. 110 min, p = .017), but no difference in perioperative complication rates (PF 16.7%, non-PF 18.9%; p = .838).
  • 25% overall recurrence rate, but all recurrences occurred in the non-PF group.
  • Medical management was effective in 92.9% of recurrence cases.
  • Most PF sites targeted adjacent discs; 88.9% were at adjacent levels, which are common recurrence sites.
  • Neurologic outcomes were similar between PF and non-PF dogs post-surgery and at follow-up.
  • Fenestration technique (blade vs. burr) not shown to affect outcome but contributed to extended surgical time.
  • No major complications or deaths linked directly to PF in initial surgeries.

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← Articles

Berthomé et al: Recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion in 55 dogs after surgical decompression with or without prophylactic fenestration
Veterinary Surgery 6, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Prophylactic fenestration (PF) significantly reduced recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion (0% vs. 37.8%, p < .001).
  • Surgery time was longer with PF (median 182 vs. 110 min, p = .017), but no difference in perioperative complication rates (PF 16.7%, non-PF 18.9%; p = .838).
  • 25% overall recurrence rate, but all recurrences occurred in the non-PF group.
  • Medical management was effective in 92.9% of recurrence cases.
  • Most PF sites targeted adjacent discs; 88.9% were at adjacent levels, which are common recurrence sites.
  • Neurologic outcomes were similar between PF and non-PF dogs post-surgery and at follow-up.
  • Fenestration technique (blade vs. burr) not shown to affect outcome but contributed to extended surgical time.
  • No major complications or deaths linked directly to PF in initial surgeries.

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, what was the overall recurrence rate reported for dogs treated with ventral slot decompression?

A. 10%
B. 18%
C. 25%
D. 33%
E. 42%

Answer: 25%

Explanation: The study reported a 25% recurrence rate overall, with all recurrences in the non-fenestrated group.
In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, what was a statistically significant outcome regarding surgery duration?

A. No difference between groups
B. PF group had shorter duration
C. PF group had longer duration
D. Non-PF group had longer duration
E. Surgery duration was unpredictable

Answer: PF group had longer duration

Explanation: Median surgical time was significantly longer in the PF group (182 vs. 110 min, *p* = .017).
In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, what was the recurrence rate in the prophylactic fenestration (PF) group?

A. 25%
B. 10%
C. 5%
D. 0%
E. 15%

Answer: 0%

Explanation: None of the dogs in the PF group had a recurrence, suggesting a protective effect.
In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, which statement best describes complication rates between PF and non-PF groups?

A. PF group had significantly higher complications
B. Non-PF group had significantly higher complications
C. Both groups had similar complication rates
D. PF group had no complications
E. Only non-PF dogs required revision

Answer: Both groups had similar complication rates

Explanation: There was no statistically significant difference in complication rates (p = .838).
In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, what percentage of prophylactic fenestrations were performed at adjacent disc sites?

A. 50%
B. 65%
C. 77%
D. 89%
E. 100%

Answer: 89%

Explanation: 88.9% of prophylactic fenestrations were at adjacent discs, targeting common recurrence sites.

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