Surgical management and long-term outcome of dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy with an anchored intervertebral titanium device.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the short- and long-term outcome of an anchored intervertebral titanium device (C-LOX) for the treatment of 10 dogs with disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DACSM) and 1 dog with osseous-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

Dogs were included if they were diagnosed with either DACSM or osseous-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy via myelography with or without advanced imaging and underwent surgical distraction and stabilisation of the affected intervertebral disc with a C-LOX implant. Assessment included short-term neurological outcome, radiography immediately and 6 weeks' postsurgery, owner questionnaire and veterinary clinical assessment.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time was 12 months. Improvement in neurological status was noted in 10 of 11 dogs. Screw loosening or subsidence occurred in five dogs. Revision surgery was performed in two dogs due to implant fracture (n = 1) and recurrence of spinal cord compression due to endplate subsidence around the implant (n = 1). Adjacent segment disease occurred in three dogs (30%) with DACSM at a mean of 11 months postsurgery.

CONCLUSION

The use of the C-LOX implant for dogs with cervical spondylomyelopathy resulted in a high rate of initial neurological improvement; however, there is a moderate incidence of minor and major complications that is comparable to previously described distraction-stabilisation techniques.