Table 1.

Signalment, clinical presentation and outcome of 12 cats presumptively diagnosed with intramedullary intervertebral disc extrusion (IIVDE)

Cat	Age	Sex	Breed	Neurological examination findings at presentation	Neurolocalisation	Site of IIVDE	MRI field	Was trauma suspected?	Initial urinary status	Time in hospital (days)	Neurological status changes and urinary status at discharge	Short-term follow-up	Long-term follow-up	Outcome
1	11 y 2 m	MN	DSH	Ambulatory paraparetic; bilateral plantigrade stance; decreased withdrawal reflex in right pelvic limb, decreased perineal reflexes	L4–S3, right lateralisation	L5–L6	High	Yes (based on imaging)	Normal	1	Static; normal urination	Neurologically normal; normal urination (3 weeks after discharge)	NA	Successful
2	5 y	MN	DSH	Non-ambulatory paretic on left pelvic limb and plegic right pelvic limb; normal nociception	T3–L3, right lateralisation	L2–L3	High	Yes (based on imaging)	Incontinent; IUC placed	5	Mild improvement; non-ambulatory paraparetic with good movement noted bilaterally; normal urination	NA	Ambulatory paraparetic and impaired (albeit improved) ability to jump and climb; normal urination (28 m after discharge)	Successful
3	8 y 3 m	FN	DLH	Ambulatory paraparetic; bilateral plantigrade stance; decreased withdrawal reflex in left pelvic limb	L4–S3, left lateralisation	L5–L6	High	No	Incontinent; IUC placed	6	Mild improvement; normal withdrawal reflexes; normal urination	Neurologically normal (6 weeks after discharge)	Neurologically normal (46 m after discharge)	Successful
4	3 y 5 m	MN	DSH	Ambulatory monoparetic in right pelvic limb; normal spinal reflexes	T3–L3, right lateralisation	T13–L1	High	Yes (superficial skin wounds)	Incontinent; MBE required	1	Static; MBE required	NA	Ambulatory (improved) and impaired (albeit improved) ability to jump and climb; normal urination (84 m after discharge)	Successful
5	7 y	FN	DSH	Ambulatory paraparetic; postural reactions absent in right pelvic limb and delayed in left pelvic limb	T3–L3, right lateralisation	T12–T13	High	Yes (based on imaging)	Incontinent; MBE required	3	Mild improvement; delayed postural reactions in pelvic limbs; MBE required	Ambulatory; normal urination (6 weeks after discharge)	Normal ambulation but impaired (albeit improved) ability to jump and climb; normal urination (63m post-discharge)	Successful
6	8 y	FN	DSH	Ambulatory paraparetic	T3–L3, no lateralisation	L4–L5	Low	Yes (superficial skin wounds)	Incontinent; MBE required	4	Mild improvement; normal urination	Ambulatory paraparetic; normal urination (4 weeks after discharge)	Abnormal (static) demeanour and comfort. Ambulatory (improved). Abnormal (worsened) ability to jump and climb. Normal urination (98 m after discharge)	Unsuccessful
7	5 y	FN	DLH	Paraplegic with normal nociception	T3–L3, no lateralisation	L1–L2	Low	Yes (witnessed)	Incontinent; MBE required	3	Static; MBE required	NA	Ambulatory paraparetic and impaired (albeit improved) ability to jump and climb; normal urination (40 m after discharge)	Successful
8	4 y 1 m	FN	DLH	Ambulatory paraparetic; bilateral plantigrade stance; postural reactions absent in left pelvic limb and delayed in right pelvic limb	L4–S3, left lateralisation	L4–L5	High	Yes (witnessed)	Incontinent; MBE required	7	Mild improvement; delayed postural reactions in pelvic limbs; normal urination	Ambulatory paraparetic; normal urination (2 weeks after discharge)	Neurologically normal (90 m after discharge)	Successful
9	8 y	FN	DSH	Non-ambulatory paraparetic; decreased patellar and withdrawal reflexes in left pelvic limb	L4–S3, left lateralisation	L4–L5	High	No	Incontinent; MBE required	2	Static; normal urination	NA	NA	LTF
10	8 y	FN	DSH	Non-ambulatory paraparetic; delayed pelvic limb postural reactions, worse on the right	T3–L3, right lateralisation	L2–L3	Low	Yes (superficial skin wounds)	Normal	3	Static; normal urination	Ambulatory paraparetic; normal urination (4 weeks after discharge)	Ambulatory paraparetic and impaired (albeit improved) ability to jump and climb; normal urination (14 m after discharge)	Successful
11	8 y 8 m	FN	DSH	Ambulatory paraparetic, worse on left; bilateral plantigrade stance	L4-S3, left lateralisation	L5–L6	Low	No	Normal	14	Static; normal urination	NA	NA	LTF
12	12 y 3 m	FN	DSH	Non-ambulatory paraparetic; absent postural reactions in left pelvic limb; markedly decreased postural reactions in right pelvic limb	T3-L3, left lateralisation	L1–L2	Low	Yes (witnessed)	Normal	3	Static; normal urination	Ambulatory paraparetic (4 weeks after discharge)	NA	Successful

DLH = domestic longhair; DSH = domestic shorthair; FN = female neutered; IIVDE = intramedullary intervertebral disc extrusion; IUC = indwelling urinary catheter; LTF = lost to follow-up; m = months; MN = male neutered; MBE = manual bladder expression; NA = not available; y = years