title: Comparison of two surgical techniques for the management of cervical spondylomyelopathy in dobermanns.
abstract: A study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of two surgical techniques for the treatment of caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy (CCSM): ventral decompression (slot) and vertebral distraction and stabilisation with a screw and washer (screw/washer). Twenty-eight dobermanns managed surgically for disc-associated CCSM during a four-year period were studied retrospectively. The maximum postoperative period was 40 months. Cases were excluded if a minimum follow-up of 24 months after surgery could not be made. A 'slot' took a longer time to perform and had a higher rate of immediate postoperative deterioration. Duration of hospital stay was similar for both procedures. At six months after surgery the two techniques were comparable; 12/14 (screw/washer) and 13/14 (slot) patients were deemed to have a satisfactory outcome. Recurrence of cervical spinal cord disease was higher in the screw/washer dogs. At one year after surgery the recurrence rate was zero (slot) and 5/14 (screw/washer), respectively. At two years after surgery 4/14 of the slot dogs had deteriorated compared to 7/14 of the screw/washer dogs. Where investigated, the cause of deterioration was either a domino disc lesion or vertebral endplate collapse and dorsal displacement of the screw and washer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rusbridge
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Torrington
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pead
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carmichael
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001863:Bone Screws; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*