Diagnostic traction and dorsal locking plate stabilization of a fifth and sixth thoracic vertebral fracture/luxation in a golden retriever: Case report

Traction was used to diagnose instability of a T5-T6 traumatic luxation that was stabilized with locking plates in the laminae and dorsal pedicles. A two-year-old, 27 kg, female spayed golden retriever was presented to a veterinary teaching hospital after being referred for possible mandibular and spinal fractures after being hit by a car. The dog presented non-ambulatory paraparetic with intact pain perception. Computed tomographic (CT) imaging showed a fifth and sixth thoracic vertebral fracture/luxation, with and without manual traction. Surgical stabilization of the spine was performed with bilateral dorsally placed locking plates (String-of-Pearls, Orthomed, UK) in the laminae and dorsal aspects of the vertebral pedicles. The dog recovered well, and neurologic status improved significantly overnight and continued to improve up until discharge, which was 6 days postoperatively. Upon recheck exam at 8 weeks postoperatively, the dog appeared neurologically normal with no obvious surgical complications. This case demonstrates that diagnostic traction-the process of pulling, during imaging, on the dog's pelvis while the forelimbs are secured in extension-demonstrated instability of the spine which was not readily apparent on initial CT imaging. Additionally, the dorsal locking plate stabilization is a viable fixation option that provided acceptable stabilization of the mid-thoracic vertebrae.