Comparison of Stand-Alone Cage versus Intervertebral Cage with Pedicle Screw and Rod Fixation in Dogs with Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis
🔍 Key Findings
- Long-term functional outcome was similar between treatments, with complete recovery in 63.6% of stand-alone cage dogs and 64.7% of cage + PSRF dogs.
- Minor complications were substantially more common with stand-alone cages (10/11 dogs) than with cage + PSRF (6/17 dogs).
- Major complications occurred in both groups, including cage migration, implant failure, relapse of clinical signs, and euthanasia.
- Cage subsidence was more frequent with stand-alone cages (75%) than cage + PSRF (33%).
- Fusion through the intervertebral cage was observed more consistently with PSRF, occurring in 4/4 CT-evaluated dogs versus 1/4 stand-alone cage dogs.
- Histologic assessment confirmed successful bone bridging and fusion in the PSRF case, whereas the stand-alone cage specimen demonstrated fibrous tissue predominance and subsidence.
- Positive bacterial cultures were identified in 6/28 dogs, but no dog developed clinically significant postoperative discospondylitis.
- The authors concluded that both approaches are clinically viable, but cage + PSRF may be preferable due to reduced subsidence and improved fusion potential.
Simini Surgery Review Podcast
🔍 Key Findings
- Long-term functional outcome was similar between treatments, with complete recovery in 63.6% of stand-alone cage dogs and 64.7% of cage + PSRF dogs.
- Minor complications were substantially more common with stand-alone cages (10/11 dogs) than with cage + PSRF (6/17 dogs).
- Major complications occurred in both groups, including cage migration, implant failure, relapse of clinical signs, and euthanasia.
- Cage subsidence was more frequent with stand-alone cages (75%) than cage + PSRF (33%).
- Fusion through the intervertebral cage was observed more consistently with PSRF, occurring in 4/4 CT-evaluated dogs versus 1/4 stand-alone cage dogs.
- Histologic assessment confirmed successful bone bridging and fusion in the PSRF case, whereas the stand-alone cage specimen demonstrated fibrous tissue predominance and subsidence.
- Positive bacterial cultures were identified in 6/28 dogs, but no dog developed clinically significant postoperative discospondylitis.
- The authors concluded that both approaches are clinically viable, but cage + PSRF may be preferable due to reduced subsidence and improved fusion potential.
Simini Surgery Review Podcast
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