[Computed tomography in cats with craniofacial trauma with regard to maxillary and orbital fractures]

Computed tomographic examination of the skull of cats with craniofacial trauma. Analysis of diagnostic findings with regard to the occurrence of isolated and combined maxillary and orbital fractures.

Prospective study (August 2006 - June 2010): Computed tomography (CT) of the skull of cats with craniofacial trauma.

Thirty-eight cats met the inclusion criteria. Breeds were 36 Domestic Shorthair cats, one Maine Coon and one Somali cat. Age at admission ranged from 11 to 187 months. The ratio of the numbers of males to females was 22:16 (1.4). Computed tomographic examination revealed a maxillary fracture in 27 (71%) animals. Sixteen (42%) cats had multiple maxillary fractures (≥2). Twenty-eight animals (74%) displayed orbital fractures. Combined maxillary and orbital fractures occurred in 26 (68%) patients. The odds ratio of this combined occurrence was 87 (p<0.001). Sixteen (57%) of 28 cats with orbital fractures showed multiple orbital fractures (≥2). The incidence of bilateral orbital fractures was 67% (25 patients). The medial orbital wall was the most commonly fractured orbital wall (66%), and the orbital floor the second most common (61%).

Computed tomographic examination of the skull of cats with craniofacial trauma showed that maxillary and orbital fractures are more common than previously described. Combined maxillary and orbital fractures occurred in more than half of the patients. In cats, orbital fractures mainly affect the medial orbital wall and the orbital floor.

Cats with craniofacial trauma often have maxillary and orbital fractures. The additional information taken from the computed tomographic examination could lead to an optimised therapeutical concept.