Intervertebral fusion for the repair of articular cervical fractures in three horses.

OBJECTIVE

To report successful stabilization of three cervical fracture types with articular involvement using different ventral cervical intervertebral fusion constructs.

ANIMALS: A 9-year-old French sport pony gelding, a 5-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding and a 2-year-old French Warmblood mare.

STUDY

DESIGN

Short case series.

METHODS

Ventral cervical intervertebral fusion was performed in three cervical fracture cases: A vertebral body, a vertebral arch and a unilateral facet joint fracture. Selected implants for this purpose were an 11-hole 4.5/5.0 LCP, a three-dimensional (3D)-printed titanium cervical interbody spacer and plate, and a 3D-printed titanium interbody spacer combined with a 5-hole 4.5/5.0 locking compression plate, respectively. These implants were applied with locking and/or cancellous screws.

RESULTS

Postoperative radiographs showed fracture healing associated with a reduction in size of the immobilized facet joints. When present preoperatively, ataxia resolved following surgery. Fracture healing was associated with an excellent postoperative functional outcome in all three reported cases.

CONCLUSION

Surgeons should consider ventral cervical intervertebral fusion techniques to manage cervical fractures with articular involvement.