Comparison of recovery times and complication rates between a modified slanted slot and the standard ventral slot for the treatment of cervical disc disease in 20 dogs

Abstract

Ventral decompression using the modified slanted slot instead of the standard ventral slot will allow for spinal decompression with potentially less destabilisation, and incur a similar incidence of complications and rate of recovery.

Acute adverse events associated with ventral slot decompression in 546 dogs with cervical intervertebral disc disease

“…A small percentage of dogs had SAVES Grade 5 postoperative neurologic deterioration (2.4%; 13/546), and 15% (2/13) of these required artificial ventilator support; however, we emphasize that of the 35 dogs having major SAVES Grade 3–5 AE, nearly half (17/35) required reoperative neurosurgery, including 85% (11/13) of dogs that had SAVES Grade 5 AE. The most common indications for reoperative surgery were related to surgeon technical errors and included inadequate decompression, postoperative spinal instability, or performance of wrong level surgery, all previously recognized complications of spinal surgery . Our results also indicate that only a minority (29% [15/21] of all dogs with major AE and 15% [2/13] of dogs with SAVES Grade 5 AE) of dogs having major AE will have no identifiable cause for the clinical decline observed on postoperative imaging studies.…”

“…Cervical IVDD accounts for 16–25% of all canine intervertebral disc extrusions, with Dachshunds, Beagles, and Poodles being overrepresented breeds among dogs with cervical IVDD . Numerous surgical techniques have been described for the treatment of cervical IVDD, including ventral slot (VS) decompression (VSD), VSD with fixation, the modified slanted slot, dorsal laminectomy, and cervical hemilaminectomy, all of which have produced satisfactory results …”

Doença do disco intervertebral cervical em cães: 28 casos (2003-2008)

“…Doença do disco intervertebral (DDIV) é a condição neuroló-gica mais frequentemente descrita em cães (Toombs 1992, McCartney 2007. A região cervical representa aproximadamente 15% dos casos de DDIV (Lemarié et al 2000).…”

Use of an ex vivo canine ventral slot model to test the efficacy of a piezoelectric cutting tool for decompressive spinal surgery

“…Several technical modifications have been suggested to mitigate the risks associated with ventral slot surgery . The inverted cone and slanted slot techniques are intended to minimize the amount of bone removal, therefore reducing the risk of intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative vertebral subluxation.…”

“…Several technical modifications have been suggested to mitigate the risks associated with ventral slot surgery . The inverted cone and slanted slot techniques are intended to minimize the amount of bone removal, therefore reducing the risk of intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative vertebral subluxation. Creation of the slot within well‐defined margins and strict centering of the slot over sagittal midline are also considered important precautions to minimize the potential for inadvertent trauma to the vertebral venous sinus .…”