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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog with back bone misalignment treated with custom drill guide

By Kangwoo Yi et al.·Published in Austral journal of veterinary sciences·2025·View original on Semantic Scholar

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Original publication title: Stabilization of Traumatic Thoracolumbar Subluxation using Patient-specific Drill Guide with Double Pin and Polymethylmethacrylate in a 12-year-old Maltese Dog

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A 12-year-old Maltese was brought in for hindlimb paralysis after suffering a spinal injury. The veterinarian used a special surgical technique involving double pins and a strong plastic material (polymethyl methacrylate) to stabilize the dog's spine. After the surgery, the dog's ability to walk improved significantly, and it was able to move around on its own again. This case shows that advanced surgical methods can effectively treat serious spinal injuries in dogs.

People also search for: Maltese dog hindlimb paralysis treatment · dog spinal surgery recovery · how to help my dog walk again

Abstract

Spinal instability in a 12-year-old Maltese with T11-12 subluxation presenting with neurological symptoms, including hindlimb paraplegia, was treated using double-pin and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) fixation. Postoperatively, neurological deficits and hindlimb paraplegia improved, enabling the dog to regain independent ambulation without assistance. Patient-specific drill guides enhanced the accuracy and safety of screw placement, highlighting their potential as an effective method for managing thoracolumbar subluxations in veterinary medicine.  

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Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/4238335e0df2060d72648022ee7fdd82769398fe