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

Thomas Bitterli; Georg Mund; Thomas Christian Häußler; Daniela Farke; Martin Kramer; Martin Jürgen Schmidt; Christine Peppler

doi:10.1055/s-0041-1736219

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

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

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

,

Georg Mund

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

,

Thomas Christian Häußler

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

,

Daniela Farke

²Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

,

Martin Kramer

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

,

Martin Jürgen Schmidt

²Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Clinical Neurology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

,

Christine Peppler

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic - Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany

› Author Affiliations

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

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References

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material