A Retrospective study of fracture and dislocation patterns of Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebrae and surgical outcome in dogs and cats

Abstract

The fracture and dislocation patterns of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and the surgical outcome in dogs and cats were retrospective investigated at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Chiang Mai University since October 2016 to December 2019. The 913 patients were found having traumatic injuries. There was 26.07% (238/913) of these patients had traumatic spinal injury. There were 82.77% (197/238) had injuries at the thoracic and lumbar areas which consisted of the dogs by 64.97% (128/197), and the cats by 35.03% (69/197). The most common damaged location in dogs and cats was T3 - L3 (47.48%, 113/238), followed by L4 - L7 (34.87%, 83/238), S1 -S3 (16.39%, 39/238), C1 -C5 (0.84%, 2/238), and C6 - T2 (0.42%, 1/238). Luxation was the most pattern of damage found in dogs by 37.49% followed as combined fracture and luxation 27.34%, burst/compression 20.90%, transverse fracture 3.90%, and hyperflexion 1.56%. The hyperextension was not found in dogs in this study. Similarly, luxation was the most pattern of damage found in cats by 39.12%, however, burst/compression was the second found by 27.54%, following as combined fracture and luxation 17.39%, transverse fracture 14.49%, and hyperextension 1.44%. The hyperflexion was not found in cats in this study. In dogs, 47 patients (36.72%) were chosen on conservative treatment whilst 21 dogs (16.40%) were performed surgery, 7 dogs (5.46%) were euthanized, 53 dogs (41.41%) did not have any treatments at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Chiang Mai University. In 69 cats, 33 cats (47.83%) were selected on conservative treatment, 6 cats (8.69%) having surgery, 9 cats (13.04%) were euthanized, and 21 cats (30.43%) did not have any treatments at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Chiang Mai University. The 21 dogs and 6 cats, who had surgical treatment, 52.38% (11/21) of the dogs and 50% (3/6) of the cats in this study had the better outcomes in six months after the surgery.