Case report: Traumatic hemorrhagic cervical myelopathy in a dog

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2023 · DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1260719 · Published: October 5, 2023

Trauma Veterinary Medicine Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

A young French bulldog suffered a spinal cord injury after being hit by a car. The injury caused bleeding within the spinal cord in the neck area, but there were no broken bones or dislocations. The dog was treated with supportive care, including pain medication and physical therapy, and showed improvement over time. While the dog recovered some movement, it still had weakness in one of its front legs, likely due to additional nerve damage in that limb.

Study Duration

3 Months

Participants

1 French Bulldog

Evidence Level

Case Report

Key Findings

1
MRI was crucial in diagnosing traumatic hemorrhagic myelopathy in the cervical spinal cord of the dog without vertebral fractures or luxation.
2
Conservative treatment, including pain management and physiotherapy, led to a fair short-term outcome, allowing the dog to become ambulatory.
3
Concurrent brachial plexus injury contributed to residual monoparesis in the right thoracic limb, indicating the complexity of traumatic injuries.

Research Summary

This case report describes a 1.5-year-old French bulldog with traumatic hemorrhagic cervical myelopathy following a road traffic accident. MRI revealed an intramedullary lesion at C2, and conservative treatment resulted in improved motor function, though with residual right thoracic limb deficits. The report highlights the importance of MRI in diagnosing such injuries and suggests conservative management can lead to fair short-term outcomes.

Practical Implications

Diagnostic Imaging

Emphasizes the importance of MRI in diagnosing traumatic hemorrhagic myelopathy, especially when vertebral fractures are absent.

Conservative Management

Suggests that conservative treatment can be effective in managing traumatic hemorrhagic myelopathy in dogs, leading to improved outcomes.

Brachial Plexus Injury

Highlights the potential for concurrent injuries, such as brachial plexus injury, affecting the overall recovery and requiring comprehensive assessment.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of orthogonal radiographs and CT to definitively exclude vertebral fractures.
2
Absence of further diagnostic tests for brachial plexus injury evaluation (e.g., electromyography).
3
No histopathological confirmation of the spinal cord lesion.

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