Animals (Sep 2023)

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Versus Anatomical Landmark-Guided Thoracolumbar Retrolaminar Techniques in Canine Cadavers

  • Julia Pentsou,
  • Séamus Hoey,
  • Michail Vagias,
  • Bethany Guy,
  • Vilhelmiina Huuskonen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193045
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 19
p. 3045

Abstract

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The retrolaminar block was developed in humans as an easier and safer alternative to the thoracic paravertebral block. This study aims to describe an ultrasound-guided thoracolumbar retrolaminar injection in canine cadavers and compare the injectate distribution between a landmark-guided and an ultrasound-guided thoracolumbar retrolaminar technique using computed tomography. Ten canine cadavers were randomised to receive two injections each of 0.6 mL/kg of iodinated contrast at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12): a landmark-guided retrolaminar injection was performed on one hemithorax (group B, n = 10) and an ultrasound-guided on the other hemithorax (group U, n = 10). Groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. The median (range) spread of the contrast in the paravertebral space was 0 (0–3) and 1 (0–5) vertebrae in groups B and U, respectively (p = 0.038). The median (range) extent of the spread surrounding the interverbal foramina was 4 (0–5) in group B and 4 (3–5) in group U. The median (range) spread along the retrolaminar space cranial and caudal to T12 was 3 (0–6) retrolaminar segments in group B and 3 (3–4) in group U. The potential of the ultrasound-guided retrolaminar injection to provide analgesia for dogs suffering from thoracolumbar pain should be further investigated.

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