title: Video-assisted removal of metal pellet fragments from the vertebral canal following gunshot injury and long-term outcome in a cat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the surgical management and long-term outcome of a spinal gunshot injury in a cat.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-year-old, 4.2 kg castrated European Shorthair male cat was referred for evaluation of bilateral acute hindlimb paralysis with loss of deep pain perception in the right hindlimb associated with a perforating gunshot wound in the left side of the flank. Based on the clinical findings, the injury was localized to the fourth lumbar-first sacral spinal cord segment. The orthogonal spinal radiographs and computed tomography examination showed several metal pellet fragments within the vertebral canal of the sixth lumbar vertebra. A left mini-hemilaminectomy of the sixth lumbar vertebra pedicle combined with a mini dorsal laminectomy over the sixth to seventh lumbar vertebrae disc space were performed. A 2.4 mm 30° arthroscope was then introduced within the spinal canal to improve visibility and help with the fragment extraction. The cat was discharged from the hospital five days after surgery and the owners were encouraged to continue passive and active physiotherapy movements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cat was ambulatory with a plantigrade stance eight weeks following surgery. At the last follow-up examination (24 months postoperatively), the cat was able to jump on chairs, although intermittent urinary and faecal incontinence, proprioceptive deficits, and plantigrade stance were still present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decompressive surgery may promote neurological status improvement following spinal gunshot injury.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matres-Lorenzo
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernardé
authors.affiliation: Fabrice Bernard, DMV, Diplomate ECVS, Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Saint-Martin, Unité de chirurgie, 275, route impériale, 74370, Saint-Martin-Bellevue, France, Email: fabrice_bernard@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography / Q000662:veterinary; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Gunshot; cat; spinal injury; video-assisted