The effect of multilevel laminectomy on the cervical spine of growing cats. An experimental study

This experiment was undertaken to observe the effect of multilevel laminectomy on the cervical spine of growing cats. Wide cervical laminectomy was done from C3 to C6 on 24 immature cats and 24 mature cats. Cervical kyphosis gradually developed in the growing cats postoperatively after 4 months; normal cervical curves were maintained in the mature cats. Corporal subluxation at the kyphotic segment was detected postoperatively after 4 months, but the characteristic wedge-shaped deformity of the vertebral body of the swan-neck deformity was not detected using serial radiographs during the 12-month observation period. Histologically, there was no evidence of thinning or early fusion of the anterior part of the physis throughout the observation period. Post-laminectomy kyphosis developed as the result of forward subluxation of vertebral bodies because of the destabilizing surgery.