Home / Regular Issue / JTAS Vol. 44 (3) Aug. 2021 / JTAS-2247-2021

 

A Retrospective Study of Vertebral Fracture and Luxation in Dogs Presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2015 to 2017

Mohd Asri Murshidah, Seng Fong Lau, Saufi Azahari Ikhwan and Intan Nur Fatiha Shafie

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 44, Issue 3, August 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjtas.44.3.08

Keywords: Dogs, prognosis, thoracolumbar, vehicular accident, vertebral fracture and luxation

Published on: 30 August 2021

To date, there is data paucity on canine vertebral fracture and luxation (VFL) in the local setting. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the geographical location and stray dog population would influence VFL cases in the University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UVH, UPM). This study aimed to describe the incidence and characteristics of VFL in dogs presented to UVH, UPM. Medical records, including radiographic images of 74 dogs between 2015 to 2017, were reviewed. VFL dominated the spinal cord disease in dogs at 49% (n = 36/74), exceeding intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE). Half of VFL cases were contributed by intact male, small breed dogs aged more than one-year-old, with 52% (n = 11/19) of cases caused by vehicular accidents. Almost two-thirds (n = 21/36) of dogs with VFL were outdoor or stray dogs, and the Th3-L3 region was the most susceptible (52%, n = 19/36) for VFL. More than 70% (n = 25/36) of the patients had unstable fractures, highly associated with severity. In conclusion, the occurrence of VFL in UVH, UPM is three times higher than reported in western countries and most likely contributed by a large number of outdoor and stray dogs.

  • Albernaz, V. G. P., Fabris, I. D. A., Paiva, B. R., Coris, J. G. F., & Quitzan, J. G. (2016). Traumatic spinal cord injury with schiff-sherrington posture and spontaneous resolution in a dog: MRI evaluation. Acta Veterinaria Brasilica, 10(2), 177–181. https://doi.org/10.21708/avb.2016.10.2.5736

  • Bagley, R. (2000). Spinal fracture or luxation. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice, 30(1), 133–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0195-5616(00)50006-0

  • Bali, M. S., Lang, J., Jaggy, A., Spreng, D., Doherr, M. G., & Forterre, F. (2009). Comparative study of vertebral fractures and luxations in dogs and cats. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 22(1), 47–53. https://doi.org/10.3415/VCOT-08–02–0018

  • Bodh, D., Hoque, M., Saxena, A. C., Gugjoo, M. B., Bist, D., & Chaudhary, J. K. (2016). Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in thoracic radiographs of Indian Spitz, Labrador retriever and Mongrel dogs. Veterinary World, 9(4), 371–376. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2016.371-376

  • Bruce, C. W., Brisson, B. A., & Gyselinck, K. (2008). Spinal fracture and luxation in dogs and cats: A retrospective evaluation of 95 cases. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 21(3), 280–284. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1617373

  • Castañeda-Herrera, F. E., Buriticá-Gaviria, E. F., & Echeverry-Bonilla, D. F. (2017). Anatomical evaluation of the thoracolumbar nerves related to the transversus abdominis plane block technique in the dog. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series C: Anatomia Histologia Embryologia, 46(4), 373–377. https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12279

  • da Costa, R. C., & Samii, V. F. (2010). Advanced imaging of the spine in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice, 40(5), 765–790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.05.002

  • Davies, E., & Walmsley, G. (2012). Management of tail pull injuries in cats. Companion Animal Practice, 34(January), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.1136/inp.d7449

  • Denny, H. R., & Butterworth, S. J. (2000). A guide to canine and feline orthopaedic surgery (4th ed.). Blackwell Science Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470699027

  • Di Dona, F., Della Valle, G., Lamagna, B., Balestriere, C., Murino, C., Santangelo, B., Lamagna, F., & Fatone, G. (2016). Percutaneous transilial pinning for treatment of seventh lumbar vertebral body fracture. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 29(02), 164–169. https://doi.org/10.3415/vcot-15-01-0003

  • Duval, J., Dewey, C., Royce, R., & Aron, D. (1996). Spinal cord swelling as a myelographic indicator of prognosis : A retrospective study in dogs with intervertebral disc disease and loss of deep pain perception. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 25(1), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1996.tb01371.x

  • Dyce, K. M., Sack, W. O., & Wensing, C. J. G. (2009). Textbook of veterinary anatomy. Elsevier Health Sciences.

  • Gallastegui, A., Davies, E., Zwingenberger, A. L., Nykamp, S., Rishniw, M., & Johnson, P. J. (2019). MRI has limited agreement with CT in the evaluation of vertebral fractures of the canine trauma patient. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound, 60(5), 533–542. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12785

  • Hammerle, M., Horst, C., Levine, E., Overall, K., Radosta, L., Rafter-Ritchie, M., & Yin, S. (2015). 2015 AAHA canine and feline behavior management guidelines. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 51(4), 205–221. https://doi.org/10.5326/jaaha-ms-6527

  • Hawthorne, J., Blevins, W., Wallace, L., Glickman, N., & Waters, D. (1999). Cervical vertebral fractures in 56 dogs: A retrospective study. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 35(2), 135–146. https://doi.org/10.5326/15473317-35-2-135

  • Hettlich, B. (2017). Vertebral fracture and luxation repair. In A. Shores & B. A. Brisson (Eds.), Current techniques in canine and feline neurosurgery (1st ed., pp. 209–233). John Wiley & Sons.

  • Hettlich, B. F., Fosgate, G. T., Levine, J. M., Young, B. D., Kerwin, S. C., Walker, M., Griffin, J., & Maierl, J. (2010). Accuracy of conventional radiography and computed tomography in predicting implant position in relation to the vertebral canal in dogs. Veterinary Surgery, 39(6), 680–687. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2010.00697.x

  • Jeffery, N. D. (2010). Vertebral fracture and luxation in small animals. Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice, 40(5), 809–828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.05.004

  • Kinns, J., Mai, W., Seiler, G., Zwingenberger, A., Johnson, V., Cáceres, A., Valdés-Martínez, A., & Schwarz, T. (2006). Radiographic sensitivity and negative predictive value for acute canine spinal trauma. Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound, 47(6), 563–570. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2006.00186.x

  • Lanz, O. I. (2003). Vertebral fractures and luxations. In Small animal surgery secrets (2nd ed., pp. 360-365). Hanley & Belfus, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-56053-579-9.50096-2

  • Lee, J., & Thumbikat, P. (2015). Pathophysiology, presentation and management of spinal cord injury. Surgery, 33(6), 238–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpsur.2015.04.003

  • McGreevy, P. D., Wilson, B., Starling, M. J., & Serpell, J. A. (2018). Behavioural risks in male dogs with minimal lifetime exposure to gonadal hormones may complicate population-control benefits of desexing. PLOS One, 13(5), e0196284. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196284

  • McKee, W. M. (1990). Spinal trauma in dogs and cats: A review of 51 cases. The Veterinary Record, 126(12), 285–289.

  • Olby, N. (2012). Spinal trauma. In S. Platt & L. Garosi (Eds.), Small animal neurological emergencies (pp. 383–397). CRC Press.

  • Olby, N., Levine, J., Harris, T., Muñana, K., Skeen, T., & Sharp, N. (2003). Long-term functional outcome of dogs with severe injuries of the thoracolumbar spinal cord: 87 cases (1996–2001). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 222(6), 762–769. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2003.222.762

  • Park, E. H., White, G. A., & Tieber, L. M. (2012). Mechanisms of injury and emergency care of acute spinal cord injury in dogs and cats. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 22(2), 160–178. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2012.00723.x

  • Platt, S. (2008). Disorders of the spinal cord. In Handbook of small animal practice (pp. 256–274). Elsevier.

  • Shamir, M. H., Leisner, S., Klement, E., Gonen, E., & Johnston, D. E. (2002). Dog bite wounds in dogs and cats: A retrospective study of 196 cases. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A: Physiology Pathology Clinical Medicine, 49(2), 107–112. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0442.2002.jv416.x

  • Sharp, N. J. H., & Wheeler, S. J. (2005). Diagnosis and surgery. In Small animal spinal disorders (2nd ed., pp. 19–33). Mosby-Wolfe.

  • Warnes, C. (2018). An update on the risks and benefits of neutering in dogs. The Veterinary Nurse, 9(3), 150–155.

  • Zotti, A., Gianesella, M., Gasparinetti, N., Zanetti, E., & Cozzi, B. (2011). A preliminary investigation of the relationship between the “moment of resistance” of the canine spine, and the frequency of traumatic vertebral lesions at different spinal levels. Research in Veterinary Science, 90(2), 179–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.05.036

ISSN 1511-3701

e-ISSN 2231-8542

Article ID

JTAS-2247-2021

Download Full Article PDF

Share this article

Recent Articles