Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sumatran tiger with hind limb weakness from spinal blood clot
By Ketz-Riley, Cornelia J et al.·Published in Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians·2004·Oklahoma City Zoological Park, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Paresis secondary to an extradural hematoma in a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae).
Plain-English summary
A 15-year-old female Sumatran tiger was brought in with a three-week history of weakness in her back legs. After a thorough examination, veterinarians found a large blood clot pressing on her spinal cord, likely caused by a slipped disc. They performed surgery to relieve the pressure, and although they couldn't remove all of the clot, the tiger recovered well. Within three weeks after the surgery, she was able to walk normally again.
People also search for: Sumatran tiger hind limb weakness · tiger spinal surgery recovery · intervertebral disc herniation in tigers
Abstract
A 15-yr-old female Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) was presented to the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Oklahoma State University with a 3-wk history of progressive hind limb weakness. Neurologic evaluation was limited to review of videotape that demonstrated weakness and ataxia with conscious proprioceptive deficits of the tiger's pelvic limbs. Spinal radiography demonstrated disc space narrowing, and myelography demonstrated a large extradural compressive lesion at the level of L2-3. Computed tomography did not reveal bone involvement. Surgery was performed to decompress the spinal cord and obtain a definitive diagnosis. A right hemilaminectomy was performed after a dorsal approach to the lumbar spine. Histologic examination of the mass revealed a consolidated extradural spinal hematoma, presumed to be secondary to intervertebral disc herniation. Despite incomplete resection of the mass and plastic deformation of the spinal cord, the tiger returned to normal ambulation within 3 wk of surgical decompression.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15305517/