Titanium implants help dog walk again after spinal trauma

Scout, a 90-pound black lab mix, had been carried everywhere by his owners since an Aug. 16 accident fractured his spine in two places. On Sept. 26, Alyssa Fox was sitting in her yard when she decided to call her dog from 20 feet away.

"He looked at me, gathered himself, and walked over like it was the most natural thing in the world," Fox said. The shaky video she captured of that moment didn't leave a dry eye in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital's exam room. 

Two fractures, two approaches

Scout arrived at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on Aug. 20, unable to move any of his limbs. Advanced imaging revealed fractures in both his neck and lower back — a combination that typically carries a grim prognosis. 

"He couldn't stand at all, which typically indicates a neck injury. But his reflexes pointed to problems in his lower spine," said Leanne Jankelunas, a neurology resident at the college. "We realized we were dealing with multiple trauma sites."

In order to optimize resources and minimize risk to Scout, the team decided to stabilize Scout's lower spine with titanium implants. But his neck fracture posed a risk — any surgical attempt could compromise his breathing or cause further spinal damage. 

The solution combined high-tech innovation with meticulous medical care. For the lower spine, surgeons used the hospital's recently acquired titanium pedicle screw system during surgery on Aug. 21.

"The titanium means it's MRI compatible, so if we had a problem, we could go back and re-image," said Rell Parker, assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery. Traditional methods remained excellent options, but Parker said the titanium system offered specific advantages for Scout's case. 

A team effort for recovery

Scout's neck fracture required a different approach entirely — a custom-made brace that needed changing every week for eight weeks. Each change became a carefully choreographed medical event. 

"There were many people involved every time," Jankelunas said. "We recruited people from other departments. We couldn't fully sedate Scout because that would relax the muscles holding his neck stable."

The stakes were life-or-death. "If that fracture moved at all, it unfortunately could cause him to pass away," Jankelunas said. 

Round-the-clock care

While the neurosurgical team managed the medical complexities, Scout's recovery demanded extraordinary commitment from Fox and her partner, Kris Bauer. They moved their lives downstairs and slept on the living room floor for two months. Every three hours, they carried Scout outside. 

"We'd stand him up and chant 'strong legs, strong legs,'" Bauer said. "We wanted him to stay part of our world."

They loaded Scout into a wagon for trips to Bauer's food truck events and weekly trivia nights, determined to keep him engaged with the world around him. 

The dedication had personal meaning for both owners. Fox has 24 screws in her own spine from a cycling accident. "We saw ourselves in Scout," Bauer said. "We knew what it was like to fight your way back."

A recovery beyond expectations 

At Scout's final checkup in late October, Jankelunas pronounced him "neurologically normal" — words that seemed impossible a few weeks earlier. Today, Scout can bound up and down stairs and play fetch, though his owners keep the throws to "about 10 feet" for now.

"He looked fantastic," Parker said at the final visit. "Considering how severely affected he was when he first came in. ... Without the owners doing such a good job, I don't think he'd be where he is." 

For the veterinary students who participated in Scout's care, the case provided invaluable hands-on experience with complex decision-making and innovative surgical techniques. The weekly bandage changes alone demonstrated the teamwork essential in modern veterinary medicine.

"The level of care we received from anyone we talked to here has been wonderful," Bauer said. "From the people at the front desk to everyone helping — everyone has been incredible."