Head trauma in dogs and cats is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. A PD-W sequence should be added to the MR protocol when evaluating the small animal head trauma patient. Agreement with CT for individual MRI readers ranged from 92.6 to 94.7%. There was higher agreement of MRI with CT in the evaluation for fractures of the face than other anatomic regions. The agreement for the different MRI sequences with CT ranged from 92.6% (T2 *-W) to 94.4% (PD-W). There was no significant difference between dogs and cats. Overall, there was 93.5% agreement in assessing a fracture as present or absent between MRI and CT, with a significant difference between the pre and post trauma studies (99.4 vs. Agreement of MRI with CT as to presence or absence of a fracture was determined for 26 individual osseous structures and four anatomic regions (cranium, face, skull base, temporomandibular joint). Pre- and post-trauma CT and MRI studies were performed on 10 canine and 10 feline cadaver heads. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the agreement of MRI with CT in the assessment for presence or absence of acute skull fractures in a canine and feline cadaver model, compare seven different MRI sequences (T1-W, T2-W, T2-FLAIR, PD-W, T2 *-W, “SPACE” and “VIBE”), and determine agreement of four different MRI readers with CT data. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be chosen in select cases. 4Office of Information Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United StatesĬomputed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate patients with acute head trauma.3Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States.2Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.1Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.Griffin IV 2 Adrien-Maxence Hespel 1 Nathan Nelson 3 Xiaocun Sun 4 Unfortunately, some patients with severe injuries or rapidly worsening neurological signs may die from their trauma despite treatment.Silke Hecht 1 * Kimberly M. In patients with more severe injuries who are significantly older or who have multiple pre-existing medical problems, recovery is less certain. Some patients can have long-term neurological signs, such as seizures, that require ongoing treatment. Animals that are younger and those with less severe injuries have a better chance to make a full recovery. Recovery Depends on Age and Existing Health Conditionsįortunately, many patients can recover after a serious TBI. In patients with severe or worsening neurological symptoms, referral to a neurologist for a CT scan and further treatment will be recommended. If clinical signs of TBI are present, the veterinarian will likely recommend admission to the hospital for close monitoring and intensive care. Other medications may be administered to treat infections or to address pain, nausea or seizures. If symptoms of TBI are identified, the veterinarian will usually administer medication to help control swelling of the brain and decrease intracranial pressure. Symptoms of TBI may include loss of consciousness, seizures, weakness in the legs or pinpoint pupils. Once breathing and blood pressure are stable, the veterinarian will perform a careful neurological examination to assess for signs of TBI. Exams Determine Severity of TBI and Treatment Options Oxygen supplementation is often provided for the first few hours after a head injury. Your veterinarian will administer intravenous fluids (IV) infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein to treat shock and stabilize blood pressure. The consulting veterinarian will first evaluate breathing and cardiovascular function. If any significant head trauma is witnessed, a veterinarian should examine your pet immediately. IV and Oxygen Support Stabilize Pets’ Conditions Fortunately, the bony skull and the large amount of muscle mass that is normally present in dogs and cats provide (some) protection for the brain. Dogs and cats can sustain injuries to the brain when they are hit by a car, attacked and bitten around the head by a larger animal or shaken by a larger animal or when they fall from a height, receive a gunshot wound or suffer blunt force trauma of some kind. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) results when there is substantial trauma to the head.
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