Traumatic spinal cord injury caused by suspected hyperflexion of the atlantoaxial joint in a 10-year-old cat

Wessmann, Annette; McLaughlin, Angela; Hammond, Gawain

doi:10.1177/2055116915589839

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion and spinal cord contusion, two conditions often associated with external trauma, were also considered common spinal conditions in this study. 19,21 Treatment of both conditions does not involve surgery, and this illustrates that multiple differential diagnoses should be considered when a cat is presented after suspected spinal trauma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diagnostic criteria for the other spinal disease categories were based on previously published literature. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] For all included cases, the following information was retrieved from the medical records: clinical history with an emphasis on the occurrence of other clinical signs such as lethargy, anorexia and weight loss; signalment; onset, duration, type and severity of clinical signs; and general physical and neurological examination findings, including lateralisation of clinical signs and presence of spinal hyperaesthesia. Age was classified as younger (<3 years), middle-aged (3-9 years) and older (>9 years).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diagnostic criteria for the other spinal disease categories were based on previously published literature. 15–23…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Clinical reasoning in feline spinal disease: which combination of clinical information is useful?

Mella

Cardy

Volk

et al. 2019

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate if a combination of discrete clinical characteristics can be used to identify the most likely differential diagnoses in cats with spinal disease. Methods Two hundred and twenty-one cats referred for further evaluation of spinal disease were included and categorised as follows: non-lymphoid neoplasia (n = 44); intervertebral disc disease (n = 42); fracture/luxation (n = 34); ischaemic myelopathy (n = 22); feline infectious peritonitis virus myelitis (n = 18); lymphoma (n = 16); thoracic vertebral canal stenosis (n = 11); acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (n = 11); traumatic spinal cord contusion (n = 8); spinal arachnoid diverticula (n = 7); lumbosacral stenosis (n = 5); and spinal empyema (n = 3). Information retrieved from the medical records included signalment, clinical history and clinical presentation. Univariate analyses of variables (clinical history, breed, age, sex, general physical examination findings, onset, progression, spinal hyperaesthesia, asymmetry, ambulatory status and neuroanatomical location) were performed, and variables were retained in a multivariate logistic regression model if P <0.05. Results Multivariate logistic regression revealed that intervertebral disc disease most often occurred in middle-aged, purebred cats with a normal general physical examination and an acute onset of painful and progressive clinical signs. Ischaemic myelopathy occurred most often in older cats with a stable or improving, non-painful, lateralising, C6–T2 myelopathy. Spinal fracture/luxation occurred most often in younger cats and resulted most often in a peracute onset, painful, non-ambulatory neurological status. Concurrent systemic abnormalities or abnormal findings detected on general physical examination were significantly associated with feline infectious peritonitis virus myelitis, spinal lymphoma or spinal empyema. Conclusions and relevance This study suggests that using easily identifiable characteristics from the history and clinical examination can assist in obtaining a preliminary differential diagnosis when evaluating cats with spinal disease. This information could aid veterinary practitioners in clinical decision-making.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Clinical reasoning in feline spinal disease: which combination of clinical information is useful?

Mella

Cardy

Volk

et al. 2019

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

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“…There have been four case reports of this disease in cats. 1 – 3 , 5 Atlantoaxial subluxation has been reported in cats as the result of instability of the atlantoaxial joint traumatic hyperflexion and ligament damage, 3 odontoid process hypoplasia 5 or occipito-atlantoaxial malformation. 2 No previous reports of cats with fracture of the odontoid process causing atlantoaxial subluxation were found in the literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous reports of feline atlantoaxial subluxation describe transarticular stabilisation 1 , 2 and conservative management. 3 We describe two traumatic presentations: a previous C2 fracture with malunion of the odontoid process, and atlantoaxial subluxation and acute-onset signs in a second case associated with body weight trauma. Both cases were treated surgically and demonstrated subsequent improvements in neurological status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Surgical management of traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation in two cats

Gilbert

Driver

2021

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports

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Case series summary We describe here the surgical management of two pure breed cats with traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation. One cat was ambulatory tetraparetic on presentation and the second was tetraplegic, both with cervical spinal pain and acute onset of paresis with subsequent deterioration. MRI was performed in both cases, demonstrating spinal cord injury. Flexed lateral cervical radiographs were needed to confirm atlantoaxial subluxation in one case. CT was performed for surgical planning and surgical stabilisation was achieved with threaded pins and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cement; odontoidectomy was required in one case. Both cats showed improvement postoperatively, with no complications or deterioration seen. Following surgery, one cat made a complete recovery; however, the second cat retained significant deficits. Relevance and novel information We present the first report of surgically managed atlantoaxial subluxation of traumatic aetiology in cats, and report its occurrence in two novel breeds for this disease, Ragdoll and Persian. One case required odontoidectomy due to previous fracture and malunion of the odontoid process of the axis; both cases underwent surgical stabilisation of the atlantoaxial joint utilising multiple threaded pins and PMMA cement without transarticular implants – a technique that has not been previously reported in cats.

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Basilar Invagination in a Cat with Incomplete Ossification of the Atlas Treated by C1-C2 Arthrodesis

Fontalba-Navas¹,

Rodríguez-Gómez²,

Calvo³

et al. 2022

VCOT Open

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Basilar invagination is a poorly described condition in veterinary medicine where the tip of the odontoid process projects into a normal foramen magnum. This report describes the clinical, radiological, and surgical treatment of a basilar invagination associated with instability of the atlantoaxial joint due to an incomplete ossification of the atlas in a cat. At presentation, the clinical signs included obtundation and non-ambulatory tetraparesis with postural reaction deficits in hindlimbs and left forelimb. Radiographic examination revealed cranial displacement of the axis with the dens impinging the basioccipital bone, and computed tomography confirmed the impaction of the axis on the atlas due to an incomplete ossification of the left half of the neural arch with the intercentrum. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed severe spinal cord compression and myelopathy at this level. The cat underwent surgery for atlantoaxial arthrodesis using a ventral approach to C1-C2. Recovery after surgery was uneventful. Follow-up a year after surgery finds the cat free of neurological signs. An incomplete ossification of the atlas can lead to atlantoaxial instability and basilar invagination in the cat. Diagnosis can be made based on its radiological characteristics, the cranial displacement of the odontoid process in contact with the basioccipital bone being its main feature. This case was successfully treated by atlantoaxial arthrodesis.

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Traumatic spinal cord injury caused by suspected hyperflexion of the atlantoaxial joint in a 10-year-old cat

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Clinical reasoning in feline spinal disease: which combination of clinical information is useful?

Clinical reasoning in feline spinal disease: which combination of clinical information is useful?

Surgical management of traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation in two cats

Basilar Invagination in a Cat with Incomplete Ossification of the Atlas Treated by C1-C2 Arthrodesis

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