Clinical, radiographic and histological evaluation of plate and biomechanical spacer of Ricinus communis polyurethane resin were performed in distraction, fixation and vertebral cervical fusion in 20 adult dogs, weighting between 17 and 22kg. Four animals were euthanized at 10, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after surgery. After ventral exposition of cervical spine, cervical disk fenestration was performed on intervertebral spaces C4-C5 and a slot was created. A biomechanical spacer of Ricinus communis polyurethane resin was placed to fill bone defect. C4-C5 spinous processes were fixed with plate of the same material, utilizing two cortical screws in each spinal process. Only one animal had neurological signs immediately after surgery. Radiographic examination indicated that vertebrae were normal and aligned, without intervertebral colapse. However, there was no bone neoformation between C4-C5. The implants were effective to keep the distraction and fixation of cervical spine without vertebral fusion.
dog; spine; implants; polyurethane
