Stabilisation of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures and luxations in cats with a polyaxial screw/rod system.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to determine clinical and neurological data on the stabilisation of thoracolumbar region fractures or luxations in cats with the polyaxial screw rod system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 16 cats with thoracic and/or lumbar fractures, luxations and/or instability. Data recorded for each patient included history, cause of vertebral fractures and dislocations, concurrent injury, time to surgery, neurologic examination and neurologic grading preoperatively and postoperatively (postoperatively, week 1, week 3 and month 6), surgical treatment, preoperative x-ray and postoperative computed tomography imaging findings.

RESULTS

The region with the most localized lesions was T3-L3 in ten cases and L4-L7 in six cases. Polyaxial screws were placed unilaterally in 13 cases and bilaterally in three cases. A total of 50 polyaxial screws were placed in all cases. Of these, 44 polyaxial screws were placed optimally, four polyaxial screws were breached (screw diameter breach <2 mm) and two screws were broken. Broken screws did not require any revisions. Although 11 of the cases showed improvement in terms of neurological grading, no improvement was observed in five cases. The clinical outcome was excellent in four cases, functional in six cases and poor in six cases.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The polyaxial screw rod system described here is a potential option for stabilization of thoracolumbar vertebrae in cats.