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DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-11-07-0096
Treatment of spinal fractures using Lubra plates
A retrospective clinical and radiological evaluation of 15 casesPublication History
Received
06 July 2011
Accepted
21 March 2012
Publication Date:
19 December 2017 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00035023/201204/lookinside/thumbnails/10-3415-vcot-11-07-0096-1.jpg)
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.
Online supplementary material
- Online Supplementary Material (PDF) Due to insufficient quality for printing, it was not possible to print Figure 2 larger. However, this figure can be viewed online and in colour at www.vcot-online.com.
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