F-waves are an electrodiagnostic technique that provides valuable insights into spinal cord function after injury. Our preliminary work revealed that certain F-wave parameters have prognostic utility in severely affected dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion (TL-IVDE). While that work focused on post-operative F-wave measurements and their correlation with recovery of ambulatory function in TL-IVDE dogs without pain perception, the predictive role of F-waves obtained at diagnosis, prior to surgery, remains unexplored.
This study aims to determine whether pre-surgical F-wave measurements can reliably predict neurological recovery in paraplegic dogs without pain perception with TL-IVDE undergoing decompressive surgery.
We hypothesize that abnormal pre-surgical F-wave parameters, specifically prolonged duration and increased after-discharge activity, will be predictive of non-recovery. To test this, we will conduct a prospective, observational study involving dogs diagnosed with TL-IVDE without pain perception. F-waves will be recorded pre-surgery from pelvic limb interosseous muscles following stimulation of the distal tibial nerve using a standardized electrodiagnostic protocol. Neurological recovery will be assessed over a 6-month follow-up period and F-wave parameters will be compared between dogs who do or do not recover independent ambulation.
The long-term goal of this research is to enhance the diagnostic and prognostic utility of electrodiagnostic techniques in veterinary neurology, enabling accurate prognostication, and personalized treatment planning for dogs with spinal cord injury. By focusing on pre-surgical assessments, we aim to establish F-wave measurements as a cornerstone of prognostic evaluation in canine TL-IVDE, potentially informing clinical decision-making and future therapeutic trials.