Vol. 12, Issue 5 (2023)

Author(s):
Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Anjan Kumar Sahoo, Indramani Nath, Srinivas Sathapathy, Anil Kumar Nahak, Aditya Prasad Acharya and Sudhamayee Meher

Abstract:
Forty-three paraplegic cases due to spinal trauma with a wide range of neurological deficits of temporary or permanent nature in felines were reported at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex and Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology for one year. Individual cases were graded into Groups A (n=23), B (n=10), and C (10) according to the location of vertebral lesions. Three groups were treated with methylprednisolone and cobalamin at different doses and the changes in clinical symptom were recorded. All cats were restricted to cage rest with proper bedding until voluntary ambulation was attained. Cats of Group B and C showed improved condition with quicker recovery in cats of group C. Satisfactory outcome was seen in 12/43 cats. Recovery with some disability, either as persistent urinary bladder dysfunction, conscious proprioception response, or retention of mild ataxia, was noticed in 10/43 cats. 12/43 cats had died at various stage of clinical observation while 9/43 cats had lost contact. Medical management was adequate in the vertebral lesion with stable fractures with Grade 2 and some grade 3 neurological dysfunction associated with lumbosacral and sacro-coccygeal affections. Spinal affections associated with thoracic trauma of grade 4 and 5 neurological symptoms had an unpredictable recovery; few recovered with some disability while most died within a few days of treatment.