Feline high-rise syndrome: 119 cases (1998-2001).
High-rise syndrome was diagnosed in 119 cats over a 4-year period. 59.6% of cats were younger than one year, and the average height of the fall was four stories. High-rise syndrome was more frequent during the warmer period of the year. 96.5% of the presented cats, survived after the fall. 46.2% of cats had fractured limbs; 38.5% of fractures were of the forelimb, 61.5% of the hindlimb. The tibia was fractured most often (36.4%), followed by the femur (23.6%). 78.6% of femoral fractures were distal. The mean age of patients with femoral fractures was 9.1 months, and with tibial fractures 29.2 months. Thoracic trauma was diagnosed in 33.6% of cats. Pneumothorax was diagnosed in 20% of cats, and pulmonary contusions in 13.4%. Falls from the seventh or higher stories, are associated with more severe injuries and with a higher incidence of thoracic trauma.
Vnuk
D
D
Clinic of Surgery, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. dvnuk@vef.hr
Pirkić
B
B
Maticić
D
D
Radisić
B
B
Stejskal
M
M
Babić
T
T
Kreszinger
M
M
Lemo
N
N
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries*; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*