Spinal trauma in dogs and cats: a review of 51 cases

The clinical and radiographical features, and the results of treatment of 41 dogs and 10 cats with traumatic injuries of the spine are reviewed. There was a poor correlation between the degree of vertebral displacement and the neurological condition of the animals. Eighteen cases were treated conservatively, 16 were treated surgically and 17 were destroyed. Surgery was reserved for animals with either severe or progressive neurological dysfunction, and vertebral body plating and hemilaminectomy were the commonest procedures. Of the cases treated conservatively 94.4 per cent showed significant neurological improvement compared with 87.5 per cent of those treated surgically.