Ventral fixation in atlantoaxial instability with axial fracture in a dog

Summary

This study reports the diagnosis and the surgical management of atlanto-axial instability with an oblique axial fracture in a dog. The fracture was diagnosed by radiography and Computed Tomography (CT). In the CT views, the appearance of the distortion of the atlantoaxial articular surface was interpreted as instability. The stabilization was achieved with the cancellous screws. Following the surgery, the neurological status improved and the dog no longer had marked neurological deficits.

Keywords

Atlantoaxial instability - ventral fusion - axial fracture - dog

• References

• 1 Davis GJ, Kapatkin AS, Craig LE. et al. Comparison of radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of appendicular osteosarcoma in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220: 1171-6.
• 2 Hawthorne JC, Blevins WE, Wallace LJ. et al. Cervical vertebral fractures in 56 dogs: A retrospective study. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1999; 35: 135-46.
• 3 Moore MP. Disease of the spine The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Elsevier Science 1992; 22: 811-88.
• 4 Smith GK, Walter MC. Fractures and luxations of the spine. In: Textbook of Small Animal Orthopaedics. Newton C.D, and Nunamaker D.M.. (eds) Ithaca: International Veterinary Information Service; (www.ivis.org) 1985. B0020.0685.
• 5 Swaim SF. Evaluation of four techniques of cervical spine fixation in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1975; 166: 1080-6.