Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with stiff front legs and paralyzed back after spinal injury
By Holland, Christopher T·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2023·Merewether Veterinary Hospital, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Schiff-Sherrington phenomenon in a cat with complete spinal cord transection from traumatic dorsocranial luxation of the second lumbar vertebra.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A young female domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet after being hit by a car. She showed signs of neck hyperextension, stiff front legs, and was unable to use her back legs, which indicated a serious spinal cord injury. X-rays revealed that her spinal cord was completely severed due to a dislocated vertebra and multiple fractures. Unfortunately, despite the vet's efforts, the cat's condition was severe, and she did not survive.
People also search for: cat spinal cord injury symptoms · why is my cat's neck stiff · treatment for cat paralysis after accident
Abstract
A young stray entire female domestic shorthair cat was presented with symmetrical forelimb extensor rigidity, neck hyperextension and hindlimb paraplegia, characteristic of Schiff-Sherrington phenomenon (SSP), within 30 min of a motor vehicle accident. Radiographic and post-mortem studies disclosed complete transection of the spinal cord from traumatic dorsocranial luxation of the second lumbar vertebra, displacement of the sacrum from the ilium, seventh lumbar and first caudal vertebrae and multiple pelvic fractures. Other causes of forelimb extensor rigidity and neck hyperextension such as decerebrate and decerebellate rigidity were excluded by a lack of neurological signs consistent with these entities and unremarkable findings on post-mortem examination of the cranial cavity and brain and histological examination of the cerebrum, brainstem and cerebellum. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report of SSP in the cat outside the experimental arena of decerebrate or non-decerebrate preparations following post-brachial spinal cord transection/cold block.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37846941/