Surgical repair of thoraco-lumbar vertebral fracture-luxations in eight cats using screws and polymethylmethacrylate fixation.
OBJECTIVE
To report our clinical experience in the surgical treatment of feline thoraco-lumbar vertebral fracture-luxations using optimal safe implantation corridors as previously described in vitro.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
Medical records and radiographs of cats with vertebral fracture-luxations stabilized by screws and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using optimal safe implantation corridors between 2009 and 2011 were reviewed. For each patient the data included: signalment, cause of vertebral fracture-luxations, presence of concurrent injuries, pre- and postoperative neurological grade, surgical treatment, imaging findings, and clinical outcome with short-term (2 weeks) and long-term (12 months) follow-up.


RESULTS
Eight cats with vertebral fracture-luxations involving the lumbar (L)(n = 5), the thoracic (T) spinal segments (n = 2), or the thoraco-lumbar junction (n = 1) were included in the study. Screws and PMMA were used bilaterally in five cats and unilaterally in three cats. No surgical intra-operative complications using the defined corridors were recorded. Implant failure followed by spontaneous recovery was recorded in one case. Two cats died in the postoperative period (≤ 4 days). The short-term and long-term clinical outcome was excellent in four out of eight cats and satisfactory in two out of eight cats.


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study demonstrates the clinical applicability of optimal safe implantation corridors for stabilization of feline thoraco-lumbar vertebral fracture-luxations with screws and PMMA. This technique can be used with limited risks of iatrogenic injuries for stabilization of vertebral fracture-luxation localized between T11-L4.
Rosario Vallefuoco Rosario DVM, CHUVA, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort, Department of Small Animal Surgery, 7 Av. du Gen. de Gaulle, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France, E-mail: rvallefuoco@gmail.com.
R
R
Vallefuoco
M
M
Manassero
D
D
Leperlier
S
S
Scotti
V
V
Viateau
P
P
Moissonnier
D000818:Animals; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000494:pharmacology; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000494:pharmacology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001843:Bone Cements; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
Cat; fracture; implantation corridor; luxation; vertebral