Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with neck fracture and paralysis walks again after surgery
By Ozak, A et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2009·Department of Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Stabilisation with dorsal and ventral fixation of a traumatic cervical instability in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old male Pointer was brought in after being hit by a car, showing signs of severe neck pain and difficulty moving all four legs. X-rays revealed a dislocated neck vertebra and fractures in the neck area. The veterinarians performed surgery to stabilize the neck using screws and bone cement. After one month, the dog was able to stand on his own, and by one and a half months, he could walk again. He made a full recovery within a year after the surgery.
People also search for: dog neck injury treatment · Pointer car accident recovery · dog cervical instability surgery
Abstract
This case study reports the outcome of dorsal and ventral stabilisation of a traumatic cervical instability in a dog. A 2-year-old, male Pointer was admitted following a motor vehicle accident. Clinical examination revealed non-ambulatory tetraparesis, severe neck pain and upper motor neuron changes in all limbs. Deep pain response was present. Subluxation of C2/3 and fractures of the dorsal spinous process and lamina of C2 were observed on radiographs. Ventral stabilisation was performed with screws and bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate). For dorsal fixation of the fractures, screws and cerclage wire were used. The dog stood up independently after 1 month, was able to walk 1.5 months postoperatively and had recovered completely at 1 year following surgery. We conclude that combined stabilisation techniques are effective for this type of cervical fracture in which the dorsal, middle and ventral structures of the vertebra are severely disrupted.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19796163/