Traumatic rib head subluxation through the intervertebral foramen causing spinal cord contusive injury in a cat

A 4-year-old cat involved in a road traffic accident presented with paraparesis, which was worse on the right-hand side. Neurolocalisation was to the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. Survey radiographs showed rib fractures but no definitive diagnosis for the paraparesis. CT revealed fracture of the dorsal rim and a T9 rib subluxation through the intervertebral foramen at T8-T9. This caused a contusive spinal injury. Treatment consisted of rest and analgesia. The cat recovered well, with the owner reporting no abnormalities 5 months following the injury.

Road traffic accidents are a common cause of injury in the cat population, with a significant number having thoracic injuries. These include rib injures such as fractures. This is the first reported case of a traumatic rib subluxation causing a contusive injury in the spinal cord of any species. Previously reported rib subluxations have been seen in humans with spinal deformities. Conservative management in this case was sufficient.