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Katja Voss, F. Steffen, P. M. Montavon
Use of the ComPact UniLock System for ventral stabilization procedures of the cervical spine
Keywords: Unilock, cervical spine
This study evaluates clinical application of the ComPactUniLockTM systema for ventral stabilization of the cervicalspine. Patient material included 13 consecutivecases, 12 dogs and one cat, with cervical spinal instabilitiessecondary to disc-associated wobbler syndrome(six dogs), traumatic, iatrogenic, and disc-associatedcervical spinal instability of small dogs (four cases),cervical spinal fractures (one dog and one cat), andcongenital atlantoaxial instability (one dog). The 2.0system was used in smaller patients and the 2.4 systemwas applied in large dogs. Implant failure was observedon follow-up radiographs in one dog with ahealed C2 fracture and screw pullout occurred in onedog with caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy, necessitatingrevision surgery. Implants remained stablethroughout the follow-up period in the other cases.Good or excellent clinical outcome was achieved in12 patients, including the dog with revision surgery.One dog had to be euthanatized due to postoperativedeterioration of neurological status and development ofpneumonia. The ComPact UniLock system was found tobe a suitable implant for treating cervical instabilitiesof different origin in both small and large patients withlesions from C1/C2 to C6/C7. Some problems were encounteredin the dogs with disc-associated Wobblersyndrome, such as lack or slow rate of vertebral fusionand partial collapse of the distracted intervertebralspace on follow-up radiographs. A lack of adequatefusion was most likely related to grafting techniquesused.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Schattauer
Print ISSN: 0932-0814
Volume: 19
Pages: 21 - 28