Predicting recovery of urination control in cats after sacrocaudal injury: a prospective study

To determine whether intact tail base pain sensation predicts control of urination after sacrocaudal fracture-subluxation in cats.

Twenty-one cats affected by sacrocaudal fracture-subluxation were diagnosed routinely by radiography. The ability of each cat to detect a painful stimulus applied to the tail base was tested by application of pressure using a standard surgical instrument. Cats were then hospitalised for up to 30 days and categorised according to whether they showed control of urination. A value of P<0.05 was regarded as significant. The results were analysed to produce data regarding sensitivity, specificity and the positive and negative predictive value of the test.

All 11 cats that had intact tail base sensation showed control of urination within three days. Four of the 10 cats without tail base pain sensation did not recover control of urination by day 30.

Intact tail base sensation predicts control of urination and is therefore a useful screening test.