Politis C. DVM, MSc, Surgery and Obstetrics Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Sarpekidou E. DVM, PhD Student, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Chaitidis E. DVM, Intern, Laboratory of Pathology, Veterinary School of Thessaloniki | Stylianaki I. DVM, Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Pathology, Veterinary School of Thessaloniki | Poutahidis T. DVM, PhD, Professor, Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Kazakos G. DVM, Professor, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Introduction
Case of a cat trapped in bottom-hung window that developed hind-limb paralysis is presented.
Clinical case
Domestic-Short-Haired-cat, 3-years-old, female - neutered, found trapped in a buttom-hung window. The lumbar spine of the cat was trapped and was presented in state of shock. Bleeding from the anus, low motor neuron hind-limb paralysis without deep pain perception were noted. Stabilization, analgesics, and monitoring of vital signs was elected. After 3 hours, the cat was severely depressed, without palpable pulse anymore. Despite cardiovascular support, 12 hours after admission cardiopulmonary arrest occurred and despite resuscitation the animal died.
Results
The necropsy revealed subcutaneous and intramuscular hemorrhages of the lumbar spine area and abdominal muscles, transmural haemorrhages in the bladder wall and the last part of descending colon and rectum mucosa, meningeal hyperaemia and edema in sacral spinal cord, along with liver and kidney hyperemia and pulmonary edema. Histopathology of the lumbosacral spinal cord revealed white matter and neuraxonal edema in cauda equina spinal nerves and hyperemia in the spinal nerve roots. These findings were indicative of ischemia/reperfusion injury due to entrapment.
Conclusions
The clamping of the cat's body while trapped in a bottom-hung window and possibly, the development of the ischemia/reperfusion syndrome of the nerve structures, led to paraplegia.
