AUTHOR=Kimura Shintaro , Nakata Kohei , Nakano Yukiko , Nozue Yuta , Konno Naoyuki , Sugawara Taku , Maeda Sadatoshi , Kamishina Hiroaki 

TITLE=Case Report: Spinal Stabilization Surgery Using a Novel Custom-Made Titanium Fixation System for the Spinal Instability Caused by Vertebral Malformation in a Dog

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.755572

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.755572

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=A 2-year-old Maltese was presented with wobbly gait of the pelvic limbs. Based on imaging examinations, a diagnosis of congenital malformation at T5-T8 and severe kyphosis causing spinal cord compression at T6-T7 was made. Dorsal laminectomy and stabilization of T6 and T7 vertebrae were performed. As the size of the vertebrae was small and they were severely deformed, novel custom-made titanium implants were used for spinal stabilization. Clinical signs were resolved 2 weeks after surgery. Although radiographic examination 373 days after surgery showed slight loosening of implants, postoperative course remained uneventful. This report describes the use of novel custom-made titanium implants for spinal fixation surgery in a dog.