Fraturas e luxações vertebrais toracolombares em cães: observações clínico-cirúrgicas

Abstract

Vertebral fractures and luxations (VFL) are one of the most common and severe neurological issues found in clinical practice, with an elevated risk of permanent damage to the spinal cord. Our objective was to study the characteristics and implications associated with thoracolumbar VFL in 37 dogs examined at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Each patient had detailed history obtained, followed by clinical, neurologic and radiographic exams. The dogs were submitted to conservative or surgical treatment according to each case. The VFL were more common in intact males with access to the street. Regarding etiology, 32 dogs were involved in car accidents. Of the dogs included in this research, 14 had non-neurological issues in other systems. Radiographic exams were 100% effective in diagnosing VFL, but 42.8% of the dogs treated surgically had vertebral lesions that weren't detected radiographically. Mean time until initial neurologic exam was 35 days, and most dogs were reffered without external coaptation. There was a significant difference in recovery of the dogs when comparing a degree of dislocation of 0 – 25% and 76 – 100%. Presence of two or three severe neurological signs was associated with a poor prognosis, while lack or just one of these indicated a favorable prognosis. Deep pain perception (DPP) was present in 37.7% of the dogs. Twenty dogs received conservative treatment, 14 underwent surgery and three dogs died before treatment for the acute spinal trauma. Of the dogs with intact DPP, 100% recovered, while none of the dogs that lost DPP recovered voluntary motion (five developed spinal walk). Presence or absence of DPP is a reliable prognostic indicator. However, there was no significant difference in time for recovery of voluntary motion in dogs with intact DPP when comparing surgical versus conservative treatment. The percentage of euthanasia was less than in other reports, probably due to the greater awareness and protectiveness of owners nowadays. Of the dogs without DPP treated either surgically or conservatively, 31.25% recovered the ambulation without recovery of DPP.