Vertebral fracture and luxation in small animals

Abstract

Vertebral fractures and luxations are prominent causes of pain and neurologic dysfunction in dogs and cats. The prognosis is variable, depending on the severity of the damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots, ranging from hopeless in cases with severed spinal cords to excellent for those with minimal injuries. The approach to diagnosis and treatment must include an awareness of the possibility of multiple injuries, and the risks of further injury during diagnostic procedures or during surgical interventions. With judicious interventions cases of vertebral fracture/luxation can be rewarding to treat, because many animals recover good function despite initially severe clinical signs.