Neurosurgery at Veterinarium - Spinal Surgery at a French Bulldog

Bondo, a French Bulldog, was referred from another clinic to the Vet CT Center located on the Kakha Bendukidze Campus after the sudden onset of hind limb paresis. At presentation, he was ambulatory only on his forelimbs.

Following evaluation of the computed tomography (CT) images, the Head Veterinarian of Veterinarium, Dr. Lasha-Giorgi Japaridze, diagnosed an L3-L4 intervertebral disc extrusion in the lumbar region, characterized by acute extrusion of disc material into the vertebral canal with significant spinal cord compression. Such a clinical presentation requires urgent and high-precision diagnostics, as timely intervention is critical for neurological recovery.

Given Bondo’s condition, an emergency surgical intervention was indicated. A hemilaminectomy combined with discectomy was performed at Veterinarium, allowing effective decompression of the spinal cord. This procedure is considered one of the most technically demanding neurosurgical interventions in small animal practice. The complexity of the surgery is due to several critical factors:

• The surgeon operates in immediate proximity to the spinal cord, where even minimal error may result in permanent paralysis or worsening of neurological deficits
• The procedure requires precise and controlled resection of osseous structures while preserving spinal stability
• Complete and safe removal of extruded disc material is technically challenging, as it is often closely associated with delicate neural structures
• In addition, anesthetic management in brachycephalic breeds such as the French Bulldog carries inherent risks and requires advanced anesthesiology expertise

The surgery was successful, and by the 3rd day after the operation, Bondo had already started using his hind limbs and moving independently. By the 12th postoperative day, the function of his hind limbs had fully recovered, and he now uses them freely (as shown in the video in the comments). 

The procedure was performed by Lasha-Giorgi Japaridze, Head Veterinarian at Veterinarium, assisted by Barbare Kurtsikidze and Nutsa Besashvili, with anesthesia managed by Natia Robakidze.