Distraction Stabilization of Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis: Technique and mid- to long-term outcome in 30 cases

Objective To describe the dorsal laminectomy, annulectomy and distraction stabilization with pins and polymethylmethacrylate technique, its complications and outcome in the management of canine degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. To determine pre- and post-surgical foraminal width and vertebral step changes. null null null null Study Design Multi-institutional retrospective clinical study null null null null Methods Medical records (2005–2020) of dogs treated (n = 30). Clinical signs, Modified Frankel Score, Texas Spinal Cord Injury Score, pain score (dorsal palpation of spine, tail dorsiflexion), imaging findings and complications were retrieved pre-operatively, peri-operatively and at long-term follow-up. null null null null Results The most common pre-surgical imaging findings were: disc protrusion (24/25) and sclerosis of the caudal end-plate of L7 (23/30). On short- to long-term assessment 18/21 exhibited clinical improvement and all exhibited improved pain scores (p  null null null null Clinical Significance Dorsal laminectomy, annulectomy and distraction stabilization is a complex procedure which can significantly increase foraminal width, reduce pain and improve gait characteristics in dogs in the short- to long-term, and should be performed by surgeons experienced in lumbosacral pin placement.