Atlantoaxial instability in a poodle with two-year postoperative follow-up: Case report

Abstract

The study presented here aims to demonstrate the success of a patient who underwent ventral stabilization surgery using screws and bone cement. Clinically the dog was tetra paretic and progressively worsened, with pain, respiratory impairment and blindness, which made the surgical decision extremely important, because there is a high chance of death in these cases. Instability is more common in small breed dogs, but there are reports in large dogs or even cats (rare). The forms can be congenital or acquired and the affected animals can present acute or chronic symptomatology, from mild ambulatory tetra paresis to severe respiratory changes and pain. The diagnosis comes from the association of physical, neurological and imaging tests such as radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance. The possibility of treatment depends on some factors, but it can be conservative or, as in the described report, surgical, which has two approaches, ventral and dorsal forms. The present case report deals with a canine, female from the poodle breed that was clinically followed for two years after surgery, with no recurrence of clinical signs or neurological impairment.