Surgical stabilisation of a traumatic cervical subluxation in a cat

A 2-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented with tetraparesis after being involved in a road traffic accident. Survey spine radiographs revealed a C2-C3 cervical subluxation, which was confirmed by a CT scan. Surgical stabilisation was performed using screws and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) via a ventral approach. A postoperative CT scan demonstrated correct implant positioning and good reduction of the subluxation. After surgery, the cat rapidly recovered to a neurologically normal status.

Trauma-induced cervical subluxation is an uncommon occurrence in cats but should be considered in the differential diagnosis. This report describes the surgical management of a C2-C3 cervical subluxation in a cat using screws and PMMA. This is the first case report of a surgically treated subaxial cervical subluxation in a cat.