Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with air in spinal canal causing leg paralysis and recovery
By Aleksiewicz, Roman & Paściak, Mikołaj·Published in Veterinaria italiana·2023·University Centre of Veterinary Medicine UJ-UR.·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pneumorrhachis in a cat: case study and a literature review.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet because it couldn't move its back legs. X-rays showed air trapped in the spinal canal, a condition called pneumorrhachis. The vet performed surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord, and after four weeks, the cat fully recovered and regained the ability to walk. This case is notable as it's the first reported instance of this condition in a cat, and it may help guide future treatments.
People also search for: cat back leg paralysis · cat spinal surgery recovery · pneumorrhachis in cats
Abstract
A three‑year‑old domestic shorthair cat was referred for treatment of pelvic limb paralysis. Imaging examinations revealed air in the spinal canal (pneumorrhachis). A right‑sided hemilaminectomy was performed to decompress the spinal cord, which led to full resolution of the symptoms within four weeks after the procedure. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous pneumorrhachis in a cat. As there are no treatment standards, we would like to add to their creation. The available literature on pneumorrhachis has also been reviewed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38752467/