LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Cervical stabilization with polyaxial pedicle screw and rod construct in horses: A proof of concept study

Photo by aaronburden from unsplash

OBJECTIVE To evaluate safety and efficacy of a novel technique for cervical stabilization. STUDY DESIGN In vivo experimental. ANIMALS Four normal adult quarterhorse crossbreed horses (2-4 years of age, > 250 kg). METHODS… Click to show full abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate safety and efficacy of a novel technique for cervical stabilization. STUDY DESIGN In vivo experimental. ANIMALS Four normal adult quarterhorse crossbreed horses (2-4 years of age, > 250 kg). METHODS One mid-cervical spinal unit (C3-C4) was distracted with a porous metal interbody fusion device (IFD) and stabilized with a polyaxial pedicle screw and rod construct. Neurologic examinations were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Radiographs of the fusion site and adjoining vertebrae were obtained preoperatively and monthly. Horses were euthanized at 8 months and spinal units were evaluated for osseointegration and implant safety via micro-computed tomography (CT), histology, and histomorphometry. RESULTS The procedure was performed safely in all horses, without severe postoperative complications. Evaluation of radiographs revealed no implant failure, implant migration, or spinal unit instability in any of the horses. The presence of new bone formation around the screw and rod constructs was confirmed via micro-CT. No evidence of inflammation or iatrogenic damage was noted from histology. New bone was present within the IFD in all horses, with variable osseointegration on the cranial and caudal surfaces of the implant in 3 horses. CONCLUSION The novel technique reported in the present study was safely applied to stabilize the C3-C4 spinal unit in the horses tested here and led to variable osseointegration within 8 months. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The results of this study justify evaluation of this technique in horses with a diagnosis of cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy.

Keywords: study; polyaxial pedicle; screw rod; cervical stabilization; pedicle screw; histology

Journal Title: Veterinary Surgery
Year Published: 2018

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.