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CC BY 4.0 · VCOT Open 2025; 08(01): e117-e123
DOI: 10.1055/a-2618-4908
Case Report

Dorsal Stabilization of a C3–C4 Vertebral Luxation and Cervical Facet Dislocation in a German Shepherd Dog

Adrien Dupanloup
1   Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States
,
Karen Vernau
1   Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States
,
Kelsey Brust
1   Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States
,
Chai-Fei Li
2   Animal Medical Center of Seattle, Shoreline, Washington, United States
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Funding None.
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Abstract

Locked facet injury is a possible severe consequence of trauma in companion animals and occurs predominantly in small and toy breed dogs. Stabilization of the cervical vertebral column is traditionally described via a ventral approach, whereas reduction of luxation is better achieved via a dorsal approach. This report describes a 3-year-old, female spayed German Shepherd dog that presented for tetraplegia caused by a presumptive road traffic accident. Clinical examination and diagnostic imaging revealed a dorsal subluxation of the C4 vertebra at the C3–C4 junction, with a right-sided locked facet injury. Luxation reduction and stabilization were achieved with a dorsal approach and internal fixation with screws in the articular process joints of C3–C4 and the pedicles of C3 and C4. Long-term follow-up showed complete recovery of ambulation and return to an active life-style

Keywords

dorsal vertebral stabilization - spinal surgery - dog - locked facet injury


Publication History

Received: 08 February 2025

Accepted: 15 May 2025

Article published online:
20 June 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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