Ventral locking compression plate for treatment of cervical stenotic myelopathy in a 3-month-old warmblood foal.
Authors: Reardon Richard, Kummer Martin, Lischer Christoph
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary Cervical vertebral malformation (CVM) causing stenotic myelopathy presents a surgical challenge in young horses, where traditional fusion techniques may be poorly suited to immature, growing spines. This case report describes successful application of a ventral locking compression plate (LCP) to stabilise the C6–C7 articulation in a 3-month-old Warmblood filly presenting with ataxia and neurological dysfunction, employing seven 5.0-mm locking screws for fixation. Following revision surgery to address screw migration (replaced with longer non self-drilling screws), the foal achieved solid inter-central joint fusion by 10 months post-operatively, with neurological improvement of 2.5 grades sustained over 32 months, whilst vertebral growth continued normally at most physes. The ventral LCP approach proved advantageous over traditional basket techniques in this immature patient, offering superior load-sharing characteristics and accommodation for ongoing skeletal development—a finding with considerable implications for managing CVM in foals where early intervention is indicated. Whilst this represents a single-case experience, the technique warrants investigation in larger cohorts to establish whether ventral plating might become a standard approach for cervical fusion in young horses, particularly where anatomical constraints or growth considerations make alternative methods impractical.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ventral locking compression plates offer a viable alternative to basket fusion in young/small horses for cervical stabilization, with documented long-term success
- •Careful screw selection is critical in immature horses—avoid self-drilling screws that may migrate; use appropriately sized non-self-drilling screws for secure fixation
- •Neurologic recovery in cervical stenotic myelopathy can be substantial (2.5 grade improvement) with appropriate surgical stabilization, even in very young foals
Key Findings
- •Ventral locking compression plate successfully achieved C6-C7 fusion in a 3-month-old foal with cervical stenotic myelopathy
- •Neurologic improvement of 2.5 grades achieved over 30-month follow-up period
- •Inter-central joint fusion was evident by 10 months post-operatively
- •Initial screw migration resolved by revision surgery with longer non-self-drilling screws, demonstrating need for careful implant selection in growing foals