SCAM13015U Companion Animal Neurology - Neurosurgery and Neuro-ophthalmology

Volume 2024/2025
Education

This course is a specialisation course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The Master is a post graduate education targeted small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Content

This course module will have a special emphasis on the approach to neurological patients that are candidates for surgical therapeutic procedures, especially surgery of the spine. As dysfunctional bladder control is a common complication with spinal cord lesions, neuro-urology addressing neuronal innervation and control of the bladder is reviewed. Furthermore, this course module will address neuro-ophthalmology in theoretical lectures.

The course consists of theoretical lectures that can advance the participants knowledge and understanding of high quality neurosurgery for especially the spine and lesions and diseases within companion animal neuro-ophthalmology. Neuro-surgery includes practical training in spinal surgery in a neuro-surgery wet lab.

The purpose of this course module is to extend the students’ knowledge, skills and competences within the approach to, assessment and management of neurological patients in need of surgery including the planning of perioperative management and special analgesia requirements.  The course will extend the students’ knowledge, skills and competences within the approach to, assessment and management of companion animal neurological patients with neuro-ophthalmological problems.

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Science.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:

Knowledge

  • Understand the etiology, pathophysiology and clinical appearance of neurological disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on the theory of neuro-ophthalmology and theoretical and practical surgical intervention of especially the spine.
  • Define and identify relevant anatomical structures of importance for a successful outcome of neurosurgery with a main emphasis on spinal surgery.
  • Understand and use common and typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery of the spine and be able to plan perioperative requirements, including post-operative management, pain alleviation and rehabilitation.
  • Explain, reflect upon, and discuss a problem oriented and evidence based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with neurological surgical disease.
  • Understand the neuroanatomy, lesion localization and common diseases of the neuro-ophthalmological system in companion animals.

 

Skills

  • Assess companion animal neurosurgical patients preoperatively, and plan and perform perioperative treatment for such patients.
  • Perform common and typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery, with a special emphasis on spinal surgery.
  • Assess companion animal neuro-surgical patient’s perioperatively with focus on treatment effect, complications and prognosis. Assess, prognosticate and suggest treatment strategies for companion animal patients with neuro-ophthalmological problems

 

Competences

  • Evaluate, plan and manage a diagnostic workup for patients with neurological disease in need of surgical intervention.
  • Plan advanced therapy/procedures for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgical intervention of the spine.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate and elaborate on evidence based new knowledge within companion animal neurological patients that are candidates for surgery and demonstrate knowledge of typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery, with a special emphasis on spinal surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and lay- persons involved in companion animal surgical neurological patient management.
  • Understand and perform a well-founded clinical and therapeutic approach to patients with neuro-ophthalmological problems.
Literature

Updated literature list will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated and prepared prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

SCAM13001U, SCAM13002U, SCAM13003U, SCAM13004U or one of the following certifications in Companion Animal Diseases:
• DVA in Small Animal Diseases, in Danish known as “certificeret fagdyrlæge i sygdomme hos hunde og katte”
• Swedish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Swedish known as Steg 1
• Norwegian specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Norwegian known as Specialisering i veterinærmedisin, spesialitet smådyr
• Finnish specialist in diseases of dogs and cats, in Finnish known as Pieneläinsairauksien erikoiseläinlääkäri
Lectures, practical exercises and workshops.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 82
  • Exercises
  • 20
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Total
  • 162
Oral
Individual
Collective
Credit
6 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Type of assessment details
The portfolio exam consists of two parts.
1) The course certificate, which supports, underpins, and focuses on the learning process (learning portfolio). All required components of the course certificate must be approved and include a) a minimum of 80% active participation, b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem oriented clinical case and c) a written assignment: a master thesis protocol.
2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes an exam with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions.
Exam registration requirements

Both, approved course certificate and a passed examination are required to pass the course. Students may attend examination without approval of course certificate.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

Exam dates will be published on the programme  homepage.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge

  • Understand the etiology, pathophysiology and clinical appearance of neurological disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on the theory of neuro-ophthalmology and theoretical and practical surgical intervention of especially the spine.
  • Define and identify relevant anatomical structures of importance for a successful outcome of neurosurgery with a main emphasis on spinal surgery.
  • Understand and use common and typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery of the spine and be able to plan perioperative requirements, including post-operative management, pain alleviation and rehabilitation.
  • Explain, reflect upon, and discuss a problem oriented and evidence based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with neurological surgical disease.
  • Understand the neuroanatomy, lesion localization and common diseases of the neuro-ophthalmological system in companion animals.

 

Skills

  • Assess companion animal neurosurgical patients preoperatively, and plan and perform perioperative treatment for such patients.
  • Perform common and typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery, with a special emphasis on spinal surgery.
  • Assess companion animal neuro-surgical patient’s perioperatively with focus on treatment effect, complications and prognosis. Assess, prognosticate and suggest treatment strategies for companion animal patients with neuro-ophthalmological problems

 

Competences

  • Evaluate, plan and manage a diagnostic workup for patients with neurological disease in need of surgical intervention.
  • Plan advanced therapy/procedures for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgical intervention of the spine.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate and elaborate on evidence based new knowledge within companion animal neurological patients that are candidates for surgery and demonstrate knowledge of typical surgical techniques for companion animal neurological patients in need of surgery, with a special emphasis on spinal surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and lay- persons involved in companion animal surgical neurological patient management.
  • Understand and perform a well-founded clinical and therapeutic approach to patients with neuro-ophthalmological problems.