Management of disc-associated wobbler syndrome with a partial slot fenestration and position screw technique.
A previously unpublished surgical technique for the management of disc-associated wobbler syndrome is described. A series of 17 middle-aged dobermanns (mean age 7.4 years) with this condition were managed by a technique of partial slot fenestration and position screw fixation of the affected disc space (C6/7 in all cases). One patient was lost to follow-up and, of the remaining 16 cases, 13 improved following surgery (81 per cent). The three failures were a consequence of incorrect placement of one of the screws. Careful evaluation of immediate postoperative radiographs allows this problem to be identified; the screw can then be correctly repositioned with an immediate return to surgery.
Queen
J P
JP
Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool.
Coughlan
A R
AR
May
C
C
Bennett
D
D
Penderis
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities*; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D013577:Syndrome