Neck fractures and fusion - what to use?

Vertebral fractures in horses tend to involve the cervical or thoracolumbar regions. Foals are more susceptible to vertebral fractures than adults and cervical vertebrae are mo spinal trauma vary according to the age of the horse. The most common injuries in young horses (less than 6 months old) involve luxations, subluxations, and physeal separa vertebrae, especially the axial dens or odontoid process. Depending on the degree of spinal cord compression and the neurological deficits, such fractures can be stabilized^b .

Adults are more commonly injured in high speed or race accidents and fractures can involve both the cervical and thoracolumbar regions. High energy impact usually results leading to major neurological signs and recumbency. For this reason, few attempts have been made to surgically repair such injuries. In some cases of cervical vertebral fract despite the obvious bone disruption. In this situation, spontaneous bone healing can occur but common complications include neurologic sequela and recurrent pain due to e Internal fixation can be used to stabilize the unstable fragments and thus prevent increased compression due to further displacement, and to prevent delayed compression by of the canal.

The accuracy of cervical fracture diagnosis, in both foals and adults, has been improved by computed tomography which allows three-dimensional assessment of potential co diagnosis and treatment of thoracolumbar and sacral vertebral injuries remain a real challenge in the horse due to its size.

Fractures of the axial dens with atlantoaxial luxation

Cranial cervical fractures are more commonly seen in young horses (less than 6 months old) and often involve the axial dens or odontoid process. These fractures usually inv resulting in separation of the odontoid process. The dens remains attached to the atlas by its ligaments, and the axis moves ventrally due to the traction of the nuchal ligamen degree and force of spinal impact at the time of the injury and can range from stiff gait to total tetraparesis or even sudden death. [...]