{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T17:07:56Z","timestamp":1780506476711,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,20]],"date-time":"2024-12-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734652800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Congenital vertebral malformations are common developmental abnormalities in screw-tailed brachycephalic dog breeds. Subsequent vertebral instability and\/or vertebral canal stenosis caused by these malformations can lead to spinal cord compression manifesting in pain, paraparesis, ataxia and\/or paralysis. Various methods for spinal stabilization are in common use. However, these are without significant risk due to narrow margins of surgical error and variable vertebral anatomy. We evaluate a novel method for spinal stabilization where a custom 3D-printed plate is created and surgically fitted to the patient\u2019s spine using custom 3D-printed drill guides.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>To describe the surgical technique and short-term outcomes in patients treated with custom 3D-printed plates and drill guides.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method<\/jats:title><jats:p>A retrospective analysis of 11 dogs from two referral hospitals which underwent this procedure was undertaken. Post-operative CT scans were assessed for spinal canal screw perforation using the modified Zdichavsky classification. Pre-operative and post-operative neurological status were assessed using the Modified Frankel Scale and the surgical technique including post-operative imaging and recovery findings were described.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Optimal screw placement (grade I) was achieved in 63% of placed screws across the eleven dogs. Partial penetration of the medial wall (grade IIa) was observed in 3% of screws and partial penetration of the lateral wall (grade IIIa) was observed in 29% of screws. Full penetration of the lateral pedicle wall (grade IIIb) was observed in 5% of screws and no screws fully penetrated the medial vertebral wall (grade IIb).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>We demonstrated that custom 3D-printed drill guides and titanium plates can provide a safe peri-operative alternative for surgical spinal stabilization of dogs with vertebral column instability due to congenital vertebral malformations. Further research is needed to describe long-term outcomes of this surgical technique on patient health.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2024.1491620","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,20]],"date-time":"2024-12-20T06:32:30Z","timestamp":1734676350000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Retrospective analysis of custom 3D-printed drill guides and titanium plate use in spinal stabilization of eleven dogs"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Phillip","family":"Guirguis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ilja","family":"Asanovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David S.","family":"Beggs","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sam 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