2013 journal article

Long-Term Effect of Cervical Distraction and Stabilization on Neurological Status and Imaging Findings in Giant Breed Dogs With Cervical Stenotic Myelopathy

VETERINARY SURGERY, 42(6), 701–709.

By: M. Lewis n, N. Olby n , N. Sharp & P. Early n

co-author countries: United States of America πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ
MeSH headings : Animals; Body Size; Cervical Vertebrae / pathology; Cervical Vertebrae / surgery; Dog Diseases / diagnostic imaging; Dog Diseases / pathology; Dog Diseases / surgery; Dogs; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; Spinal Cord Compression / complications; Spinal Cord Compression / surgery; Spinal Cord Compression / veterinary; Spinal Stenosis / pathology; Spinal Stenosis / surgery; Spinal Stenosis / veterinary; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Source: Web Of Science
Added: August 6, 2018

To assess long-term clinical and imaging outcomes in giant breed dogs with cervical stenotic myelopathy treated surgically.Retrospective case series.Dogs (n = 7).All dogs had lateral or dorsolateral cord compression at 1 or more sites and were treated with cervical distraction and stabilization using PMMA plugs. Four dogs had follow-up CT or CT/myelography performed at least 6 months postoperatively. Spinal canal stenosis measurements were compared between pre- and postoperative CT images. Long-term clinical neurologic re-evaluation ranged from 4 to 7 years. Outcome was considered positive, satisfactory, or negative. Recurrence was defined as signs of a cervical myelopathy in dogs that initially improved or had stable disease postoperatively.All dogs had immediate postoperative improvement. Recurrence (4 months to 4 years postoperatively) occurred in 3 dogs that had multiple sites of compression. Long-term outcome was positive in 4 of 7 dogs. Postoperative imaging revealed subjective regression of bony proliferation at surgical sites in 2 of 4 dogs that improved clinically but morphometric data showed no change in canal measurements. An adjacent site lesion was confirmed in 1 dog.Distraction and stabilization with PMMA plugs and bone grafts is a safe surgical option for giant breed dogs with CSM with a single site of lateral or dorsolateral compression. Long-term recurrence was common among dogs with multiple sites of compression. Follow-up of 4 years or more among a larger population is indicated to fully assess implications of surgical intervention and determine recurrence rates.