Ventral stabilization of thoracic kyphosis through bilateral intercostal thoracotomies using SOP (String of Pearls) plates contoured after a 3‐dimensional print of the spine

Abstract

Stabilization of vertebral bodies with precontoured SOP placed through bilateral thoracotomies may be considered as a treatment option for dogs with thoracic kyphosis and secondary myelopathy.

Accuracy of three‐dimensionally printed animal‐specific drill guides for implant placement in canine thoracic vertebrae: A cadaveric study

“…We elected to study these vertebrae because this region is commonly affected by trauma and malformations and because vertebral anatomy varies between the T1 to T11 and T12 to T13 vertebral groups. 1,4,7,8 The entry point and angular deviations were small, and there were no unintended vertebral cortical violations, confirming the efficacy and safety of the procedure in terms of trajectory. The performance of the guides did not differ when used by a novice surgeon compared with an experienced surgeon, providing evidence that the procedure is readily learned and independent of surgical expertise.…”

“…In this study, we created 58 drill tracts in vertebrae T8 to T13 of 5 canine cadavers by using custom designed, 3‐D printed drill guides. We elected to study these vertebrae because this region is commonly affected by trauma and malformations and because vertebral anatomy varies between the T1 to T11 and T12 to T13 vertebral groups 1,4,7,8 . The entry point and angular deviations were small, and there were no unintended vertebral cortical violations, confirming the efficacy and safety of the procedure in terms of trajectory.…”

“…However, placement of implants into thoracic vertebrae is challenging for a number of reasons. Ventral and lateral approaches to the thoracic vertebrae are rarely performed because they require traversing the thorax in close proximity to the great vessels and other critical structures 5‐7 . A dorsal approach is used in most cases, but the conformation of these vertebrae, particularly those cranial to T12, leaves little room for error in placing implants, with the spinal canal located medially and the thorax ventrally and laterally.…”

“…Ventral and lateral approaches to the thoracic vertebrae are rarely performed because they require traversing the thorax in close proximity to the great vessels and other critical structures. [5][6][7] A dorsal approach is used in most cases, but the conformation of these vertebrae, particularly those cranial to T12, leaves little room for error in placing implants, with the spinal canal located medially and the thorax ventrally and laterally. Implantation corridors have been calculated for portions of the canine spine and illustrate this narrow safety margin with corridor widths estimated at 2.3 to 8.2 mm for T10 to T13 in dogs weighing 6 to 75 kg, with a mean of 3.4, 3.6, 4.2, and 5.3 mm for T10, T11, T12, and T13, respectively.…”

Thoracolumbar meningeal fibrosis in pugs

“…The clinical presentation in dogs with thoracolumbar myelopathy is highly variable regarding clinical onset, course, and presence of spinal pain, depending partly on the underlying etiology . In pugs however, thoracolumbar myelopathy with uniform clinical phenotype and clinical course, but of different etiologies, including spinal cord as well as vertebral column lesions, is described . Spinal cord lesions, including subarachnoid diverticula (SAD) and constrictive myelopathy, have been given attention in pugs as separate diagnoses underlying myelopathy .…”