Vertebral distraction-fusion for cervical spondylopathy using a screw and double washer technique

A technique using two interbody washers and a transvertebral screw was utilised to distract the cervical vertebrae and so decompress the spinal cord in 17 dobermann pinschers and three great danes with cervical spondylopathy. Neurological dysfunction was graded (1 to 5) according to the degree of hindlimb ataxia. Myelography showed evidence of spinal cord compression at C6-7 in all dogs and at C5-6 in six dogs. Twenty-three compressive lesions were reduced when traction was applied to the cervical spine. Seventeen dogs improved following surgery and of these 10 improved by two or more grades. Follow-up radiographic studies indicated resorption of end-plate bone and eventual fusion of the vertebral bodies. Displacement of the screw into the vertebral canal, remodelling of the vertebral canal, fracture of C6 ventral spinous process and breakage of the screw were implant associated complications. The distraction-fusion technique with modifications appears to be an effective procedure for the management of cervical spondylopathy in dogs in which the compressive lesion is soft tissue in nature.