Retrospective Studies on Patterns of Occurance and Treatment Outcomes of Traumatic Posterior Paralysis in Dogs

A retrospective study was conducted to investigate patterns of traumatic posterior paralysis in 253 dogs to evaluate treatment related differences on clinical outcome. Data regarding signalment, etiology, neurological status, radiographic appearance, treatment and follow-up of traumatic posterior paralysis was pooled and analyzed. Males (63.24%) and non descript dogs (41.90%) were most commonly affected. Age of occurrence ranged between four months to 16 years and higher incidence was seen in young dogs less than one year of age (35.18%). Automobile accidents (64.82%) were the most common cause of traumatic posterior paralysis and caudal thoracic and cranial lumbar (T₁₀ -L₃) region (42.29%) was the most commonly affected location in dogs. Fractures and luxations were highest (26.48%), followed by intervertebral disc space involvement (20.55%). Among 253 animals, 22.13% animals had a poor prognosis due to severity of injury and were euthanized. The conservative treatment was taken up in 36.76% animals with grade I and II neurological deficit and good outcome was observed in 50.54%, functional recovery in 11.83% and poor recovery in 21.51% animals. Surgical treatment was performed in 41.11% patients with grade III and IV neurological deficit and marked vertebral instability of which good, functional and poor outcomes were observed in 17.31%, 0.77% and 73.08% animals respectively. Several different patterns of vertebral injuries exist, these generally do not seem to affect treatment outcome.