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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2022; 35(01): 064-070
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736219
Clinical Communication

Minimal Invasive Fluoroscopic Percutaneous Lateral Stabilization of Thoracolumbar Spinal Fractures and Luxations Using Unilateral Uniplanar External Skeletal Fixators in Dogs and Cats

Thomas Bitterli
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
,
Georg Mund
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
,
Thomas Christian Häußler
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
,
Daniela Farke
2   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
,
Martin Kramer
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
,
Martin Jürgen Schmidt
2   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
,
Christine Peppler
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to describe minimally invasive spinal stabilization using a unilateral uniplanar external skeletal fixator (ESF, type 1a) with polymethylmethacrylate, and to review short- and long-term outcomes and complications in a clinical case series.

Study Design Medical records from animals affected by spinal fracture luxation were reviewed. The data included breed, age, gender, body weight, aetiology, preoperative and postoperative neurological state, radiographic findings, surgical treatment, pin size, number of pins and stabilized vertebrae, intra- and postoperative complications and neurological state at re-examinations.

Results Thirty-two animals were identified; three were treated conservatively, 19 surgically and 10 were euthanatized. In eight dogs and six cats, the injured spinal column was treated with a laterally applied percutaneous type 1a ESF under fluoroscopic guidance. Positive profile end-threaded pins inserted were from 1.6/1.9 to 3.5/4.3 mm in dogs and 1.6/1.9 to 2/2.3 mm in cats and were placed into two to five vertebral bodies. At the re-examinations, the neurological status had improved in 12 animals, deteriorated in one, and was unchanged in another one. In eight cases, no complications were detected. The most common complications included erythema, exudation and pin loosening.

Conclusion The present work shows that type 1a ESF can be successfully and minimally invasively applied to fractures and luxations of the spine in dogs and cats with minimal major complications.

Keywords

external skeletal fixation - spinal fractures and luxations - minimally invasive approach - cats - dogs

Authors' Contributions

T.B. was involved in study design, data acquisition, management and data interpretation and preparation of the manuscript; G.M. was involved in data acquisition, management and data interpretation and review of the manuscript; T.C.H. and D.F. acquired data and reviewed the manuscript; M.K. designed the study and reviewed the manuscript; M.J.S. was involved in data acquisition and preparation and review of the manuscript; C.P. was involved in study design, acquisition, management and data interpretation and preparation and review of the manuscript.


Note

Preliminary results of this work were presented as a podium presentation at the 47th Annual Veterinary Orthopedic Society Conference, VOS 2020 Conference; February 1–8, 2020; Sun Valley, Idaho, United States.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 15 February 2021

Accepted: 31 July 2021

Article published online:
11 October 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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