{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]],"date-time":"2026-08-01T09:51:56Z","timestamp":1785577916922,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["javma"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,15]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>CASE DESCRIPTION<\/jats:bold> A 17-year-old sexually intact male aardvark (O<jats:italic>rycteropus afer<\/jats:italic>) was evaluated because of hind limb proprioception deficits and ataxia.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>CLINICAL FINDINGS<\/jats:bold> Results of examination and CT suggested a diagnosis of intervertebral disk disease and diskospondylitis at the L2\u20133 intervertebral space. Magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column also indicated intervertebral disk rupture with spinal cord compression and inflammation of the adjacent epaxial musculature<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>TREATMENT AND OUTCOME<\/jats:bold> Hemilaminectomy was performed according to the technique described for dogs. Anatomic variations encountered intraoperatively limited the ability to completely remove the affected disk material; however, adequate decompression of the spinal cord was achieved. Microbial culture and susceptibility testing of surgical biopsy specimens yielded a multidrug-resistant <jats:italic>Enterococcus faecalis<\/jats:italic> that was treated with a 10-week course of linezolid. Intensive postoperative care required constant rate infusions for adequate sedation, analgesia, and antimicrobial treatment. Dehiscence of the surgical site occurred 3 weeks after surgery and was treated with negative pressure wound therapy. Physical rehabilitation initiated 5 days after surgery progressed from passive range of motion to the use of an underwater treadmill. Despite initial improvement, acute deterioration occurred 5.5 months after surgery. Repeated CT revealed progression of diskospondylitis, which prompted euthanasia.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p><jats:bold>CLINICAL RELEVANCE<\/jats:bold> Postoperative hind limb paresis and paralysis in this species presented considerable challenges for care and rehabilitation. Patient demeanor, size, and anatomy required development of custom mechanical devices. Despite the inability to eliminate the multidrug-resistant bacterial osteomyelitis that resulted in the death of this aardvark, information gained may benefit treatment of subsequent patients.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.252.4.464","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,2]],"date-time":"2018-02-02T15:40:29Z","timestamp":1517586029000},"page":"464-472","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Lumbar hemilaminectomy for treatment of diskospondylitis in an aardvark (Orycteropus afer)"],"prefix":"10.2460","volume":"252","author":[{"given":"Benjamin N.","family":"Nevitt","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael J.","family":"Adkesson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gwen","family":"Jankowski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paula","family":"West","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer N.","family":"Langan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1272","reference":[{"key":"ref1","series-title":"Reference ranges for physiological values in captive wildlife","author":"Tear","year":"2002"},{"key":"ref2","series-title":"Zoo and wild animal medicine","first-page":"538","article-title":"Tubulidentata (aardvarks)","author":"Stetter","year":"2003"},{"key":"ref3","series-title":"Zoo and wild animal medicine","first-page":"514","article-title":"Tubulidentata (aardvarks)","author":"Buss","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref4","series-title":"Zoo animal and wildlife immobilization and anesthesia","first-page":"539","article-title":"Tubulidentata and Pholidota","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref5","series-title":"Diagnostic imaging and surgical resection of a malignant meningioma in an African hunting dog","author":"Berlinski"},{"key":"ref6","series-title":"J Zoo Wildl Med","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1638\/2007-0140R.1","article-title":"Thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy and spinal cord decompression in a lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus)","volume":"39","author":"Capitanio","year":"2008"},{"key":"ref7","series-title":"J Med Primatol","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"283","DOI":"10.1034\/j.1600-0684.2001.d01-61.x","article-title":"Multi-tiered treatment of pressure sores in two cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis)","volume":"30","author":"Duncan","year":"2001"},{"key":"ref8","series-title":"J Zoo Wildl Med","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"468","DOI":"10.1638\/2007-0104.1","article-title":"Continuous lumbar hemilaminectomy for intervertebral disc disease in an Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)","volume":"39","author":"Flegel","year":"2008"},{"key":"ref9","series-title":"J Zoo Wildl Med","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1638\/01-087","article-title":"Paresis secondary to an extradural hematoma in a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)","volume":"35","author":"Ketz-Riley","year":"2004"},{"key":"ref10","series-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc","first-page":"882","article-title":"Spinal decompression in a black bear","volume":"177","author":"Nichols","year":"1980"},{"key":"ref11","series-title":"J Zoo Wildl Med","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1638\/2006-0013R1.1","article-title":"Intervertebral disc extrusion and spinal decompression in a binturong (Arctictis binturong)","volume":"38","author":"Spriggs","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref12","series-title":"Small animal surgery","first-page":"1460","article-title":"Surgery of the thoracolumbar spine","author":"Seim","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref13","series-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1249","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.231.8.1249","article-title":"Vacuum-assisted closure for treatment of a deep shell abscess and osteomyelitis in a tortoise","volume":"231","author":"Adkesson","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref14","series-title":"J Zoo Wildl Med","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1638\/2010-0149.1","article-title":"Surgical amputation of a digit and vacuum-assisted-closure (V.A.C.) management in a case of osteomyelitis and wound care in an eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli)","volume":"42","author":"Harrison","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref15","series-title":"J Small Anim Pract","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"610","DOI":"10.1111\/jsap.12118","article-title":"The use of pressure wound therapy following subcarapacial abscess excision in a tortoise","volume":"54","author":"Hedley","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref16","series-title":"Management of severe skin wounds in a young tiger (Panthera tigris)","first-page":"38","author":"Lafortune","year":"2002"},{"key":"ref17","series-title":"Managing dental disease in aardvarks (Orycteropus afer)","first-page":"93","author":"Langan","year":"2003"},{"key":"ref18","series-title":"Clin Infect Dis","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/cir034","article-title":"Clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in adults and children: executive summary","volume":"52","author":"Lui","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref19","series-title":"Curr Pharm Drugs","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.2174\/1381612802666220921173820","article-title":"Oxazolidinone antibacterial agents","volume":"2","author":"Brickner","year":"1996"},{"key":"ref20","series-title":"Antimicrob Agents Chemother","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4046","DOI":"10.1128\/AAC.00678-12","article-title":"Adverse effects of antimicrobials via predictable or idiosyncratic inhibition of host mitochondrial components","volume":"56","author":"Barnhill","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref21","series-title":"J Small Anim Pract","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-5827.2003.tb00124.x","article-title":"Fibrocartilaginous embolism in 75 dogs: clinical findings and factors influencing the recovery rate","volume":"44","author":"Gandini","year":"2003"}],"container-title":["Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/avmajournals.avma.org\/view\/journals\/javma\/252\/4\/javma.252.4.464.xml","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/avmajournals.avma.org\/downloadpdf\/journals\/javma\/252\/4\/javma.252.4.464.xml","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/avmajournals.avma.org\/downloadpdf\/journals\/javma\/252\/4\/javma.252.4.464.xml","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,7]],"date-time":"2025-03-07T11:58:29Z","timestamp":1741348709000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/avmajournals.avma.org\/view\/journals\/javma\/252\/4\/javma.252.4.464.xml"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,15]]},"references-count":21,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4"},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2460\/javma.252.4.464","relation":{},"ISSN":["0003-1488"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0003-1488","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,2,15]]}}}