Summary
The purpose of this retrospective study was to review the clinical use along with
the shortand long-term outcome in patients treated with Lubra plates to stabilize
spinal fracture and dislocations that were considered unstable at time of surgery
according to the ‘three compartment theory’. The data that were collected included
breed, age, gender, body weight of the patients, cause of injury, neurological grade
(pre- and postoperative), radiographic findings, surgical treatment, and clinical
and radiological outcome. Thirteen dogs and two cats were included with thoracic (1
case), thoracolumbar (3 cases), midlumbar (5 cases) and caudal lumbar (6 cases) vertebral
fractures. For stabilization, the small-sized (3 cases), medium-sized (6 cases), and
large-sized (6 cases) Lubra plates were used. The clinical outcome was excellent in
10/15 patients, functional in 2/15 and poor in 3/15 with a median follow-up period
of nine years (range 2 months to 12 years). The fractures eventually stabilized by
ventral spondylosis. No implant failure was seen, however demineralization of the
spinous processes necessitated implant removal in one case. Our results suggest that
Lubra plating is an appropriate technique for thoracolumbar and lumbar vertebral fractures
as well as luxations in dogs and cats. The prognosis for neurological recovery was
excellent when the animal had a neurological grade of 3 and was not paralyzed.
Keywords
Spinal - fracture - luxation - Lubra plate - dog - cat
