Comparison of owner-reported recurrent clinical signs of thoracolumbar disk herniation following multiple chondroitinase ABC intradiskal injections or routine surgical management.

ChABC intradiskal injections reduced recurrence of thoracolumbar IVDH signs by 70% versus surgery.

This retrospective cohort study compared recurrence rates of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) clinical signs in dogs treated with intradiskal chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) injections versus routine surgical decompression. Forty-seven ChABC-treated dogs received 1.25-U injections into four consecutive disks, while 79 surgically managed dogs underwent variable fenestration procedures. Both groups achieved independent locomotion (>50 unsupported steps) during initial recovery. Owner-reported recurrence occurred in 13% of ChABC-treated dogs compared to 30% of surgical cases. Poisson regression analysis revealed significantly lower recurrence in the ChABC group (IRR 0.38; 95% CI 0.17-0.87) and in older dogs (IRR 0.81; 95% CI 0.70-0.93). The adjusted multivariable model suggested ChABC injections reduced recurrence risk by approximately 70%. These findings suggest intradiskal ChABC injection may provide prophylactic benefits against recurrent IVDH, potentially offering an alternative or adjunctive approach to traditional surgical management in canine patients.

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