Radiographic lumbosacral vertebral abnormalities and constipation in cats

Abstract

Background and Aim: Lumbosacral intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in cats usually develops concurrent with constipation, spondylosis deformans, and sacralization. However, the prevalence of lumbar IVDD in cats was considered low, and there was less information on the incidence of non-traumatic lumbosacral vertebral abnormalities that may affect large bowel dysfunction. This study aimed to retrospectively investigate the relationship between non-traumatic lumbosacral vertebral abnormalities, both congenital and acquired, and large bowel dysfunction in cats. Materials and Methods: Of 3108 cats that were presented to the Diagnostic Imaging Unit, the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, between March 2016 and February 2018, 1365 cats met the inclusion criteria. All abdominal radiographs were reviewed, and all subsequent data were recorded, including the presence of congenital or acquired lumbosacral lesions, number of lumbar vertebrae, and length of the second, fifth, and last lumbar vertebrae, including the type of lumbar abnormalities. Moreover, radiographic information relating to constipation and megacolon was also collected. Results: Non-traumatic lumbosacral vertebral abnormalities were observed in 29.74% of cats. The most common congenital lumbosacral vertebral abnormalities were six lumbar vertebrae, sacralization, and lumbarization, whereas most common acquired lumbosacral abnormalities were bone spur, narrowing disk space, spondylosis deformans, and lumbosacral degeneration, respectively. Cats with abnormal lumbosacral vertebrae are prone to have more problems with the large bowel (p=0.0057; odds ratio=1.731). Moreover, congenital and acquired lumbosacral abnormalities were also at risk of large bowel abnormalities (p=0.0069; odds ratio=1.920 and p<0.0001; odds ratio=4.107, respectively). Conclusion: This study revealed the evidence and distribution of the variation in feline lumbar anatomy and also elucidated that cats with abnormal lumbar vertebral columns were more likely to have problems with distal gastrointestinal tracts than those without.

Transitional, fused and/or supernumerary vertebrae in the lumbosacrocaudal region of the spine - A reality in many domestic mammals

“…The investigations of Thanaboonnipat et al. (2021) in 1 365 cats revealed the following congenital anomalies: six lumbar vertebrae (141), sacralisation (48), lumbarisation (16), hemivertebrae (1), and five lumbar vertebrae (1).…”

“…Even if the number of animals is higher, the percentage of LTV (sacralisation + lumbarisation) in their study corresponds to those of our findings. Thanaboonnipat et al. (2021) concluded that cats with abnormal lumbosacral vertebrae are prone to having more problems with the large bowel.…”

“…(2021) concluded that cats with abnormal lumbosacral vertebrae are prone to having more problems with the large bowel. Moreover, congenital and acquired lumbosacral abnormalities are often accompanied by the risk of large bowel abnormalities ( Thanaboonnipat et al. 2021 ).…”

Transitional and/or Supernumerary Vertebra in Lumbosacrocaudal Region of the Spine – a Reality in All Domestic Mammals

“…Even the number of animals was higher, the percentage of lumbosacral transitional vertebra (sacralisation+lumbarisation) in this study was appropriate to that of our findings. It has been concluded, that cats with abnormal lumbosacral vertebrae are predisposed to have more problems with the large bowel [43].…”

Diagnosis and Treatment of Constipation and Bladder Contusion Hematuria Due to Trauma in a Cat

“…Constipation in cats is a temporary loss of significant bowel function brought on by various issues, with no preference for age, sex, or breed. Constipation can cause irregular fecal contents, such as small, spherical, or ribbon-like feces, difficulty defecating, atypical defecation, abdominal swelling, tenesmus, and infrequent defecation (Thanaboonnipat et al, 2021). Constipation can occur due to several reasons, such as refusal to defecate due to inability to posture to defecate, orthopedic problems, or neurologic problems (Thompson, 2014).…”