Influence of a modified surgical approach for the treatment of lumbosacral stenosis using customized 3D-printed surgical guides on the speed of postoperative recovery in dogs

A comparative study was conducted to evaluate two techniques of dorsal laminectomy and transpedicular stabilization of the L7–S1 segment in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis: a freehand technique and a technique using patient-specific 3D-printed drill guides. The study included 10 large-breed dogs divided into two groups of five animals each. All dogs presented with pain, difficulty rising, gait abnormalities, and pelvic limb paresis. The diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the experimental group, individualized navigation guides manufactured using SLA 3D printing were used to create pilot channels for pedicle screw placement. The use of 3D-printed drill guides resulted in faster postoperative recovery: ataxia resolved on average 7 days earlier, weight-bearing function of the pelvic limbs recovered 0.8 days earlier, pain resolved 0.7 days earlier, and appetite normalized 1 day earlier compared with the conventional freehand technique. These findings indicate lower surgical invasiveness and high clinical efficacy of patient-specific navigation guides in the treatment of canine degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.