Surgical stabilization using either external or internal fixation has been described as a treatment for many conditions affecting the canine vertebral column such as fractures or luxations, caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy, atlantoaxial instability,lumbosacral instability, congenital deformities, and pathologic instability due to diskospondylitis or neoplasia. Cervical spinal stabilization is most often performed via a ventral approach using the vertebral body and possibly transverse processes forimplant placement. Most thoracolumbar stabilization techniques aim for placement of implants into the pedicle and vertebral body to improve bone purchase and implant stability via a dorsal or lateral approach. Examples include the use of pins and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), screws and PMMA, vertebral body plates, string of pearls plates (SOP), clamp rod internal fixator, and external skeletal spinal fixation (thoracolumbar spine only). Dorsal spinal plates and spinal stapling are not recommended dueto high failure rates and inadequate stabilization. Modified spinal stapling with addition of wires around ribs or through articular processes improves stability but is only recommended in cats and small dogs.
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