title: Long-term effect of cervical distraction and stabilization on neurological status and imaging findings in giant breed dogs with cervical stenotic myelopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess long-term clinical and imaging outcomes in giant breed dogs with cervical stenotic myelopathy treated surgically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n = 7).
  
  
  METHODS
  All dogs had lateral or dorsolateral cord compression at 1 or more sites and were treated with cervical distraction and stabilization using PMMA plugs. Four dogs had follow-up CT or CT/myelography performed at least 6 months postoperatively. Spinal canal stenosis measurements were compared between pre- and postoperative CT images. Long-term clinical neurologic re-evaluation ranged from 4 to 7 years. Outcome was considered positive, satisfactory, or negative. Recurrence was defined as signs of a cervical myelopathy in dogs that initially improved or had stable disease postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All dogs had immediate postoperative improvement. Recurrence (4 months to 4 years postoperatively) occurred in 3 dogs that had multiple sites of compression. Long-term outcome was positive in 4 of 7 dogs. Postoperative imaging revealed subjective regression of bony proliferation at surgical sites in 2 of 4 dogs that improved clinically but morphometric data showed no change in canal measurements. An adjacent site lesion was confirmed in 1 dog.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distraction and stabilization with PMMA plugs and bone grafts is a safe surgical option for giant breed dogs with CSM with a single site of lateral or dorsolateral compression. Long-term recurrence was common among dogs with multiple sites of compression. Follow-up of 4 years or more among a larger population is indicated to fully assess implications of surgical intervention and determine recurrence rates.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Natasha J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Olby
authors.forename: Nick J H
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Early
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed