A Practical Approach to Neurology for the Small Animal Practitioner

Schiff–Sherrington phenomenon in a cat with complete spinal cord transection from traumatic dorsocranial luxation of the second lumbar vertebra

“…The salient finding in the present case was the forelimb extensor rigidity and neck hyperextension characteristic of SSP (Bagley, 2005; Braund, 1994; Chrisman, 1991; Chrisman et al., 2003; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Fitzmaurice, 2010, Jaggy & Platt, 2010; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Garosi, 2012; Griffiths, 1987; LeCouteur, 1986; LeCouteur & Child, 1989; Lorenz et al., 2011; Messonnier, 2000; Olby, 2013; Palmer, 1975; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005; Thomson & Hahn, 2012; Wheeler & Thomas, 1996) in a cat with complete traumatic transection of the spinal cord between first and second lumbar vertebrae. As an increase in forelimb extensor tone can occur with cervical spinal cord lesions, and forelimb extensor rigidity and neck hyperextension are classical signs of decerebrate and decerebellate rigidity (De Lahunta et al., 2020b; De Lahunta et al., 2020a; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur, 1986; LeCouteur & Child, 1989), all of which could arise from trauma, it was imperative to rule out these considerations if a clear cut diagnosis of SSP was to be made. The presence of voluntary movement, postural reactions, proprioceptive positioning and superficial pain sensation in the forelimbs largely ruled out the possibility of a cervical spinal cord lesion (Braund, 1994; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Freeman & Ives, 2020; LeCouteur & Child, 1989), particularly given the absence of radiographic evidence of spinal cord trauma.…”

“…As an increase in forelimb extensor tone can occur with cervical spinal cord lesions, and forelimb extensor rigidity and neck hyperextension are classical signs of decerebrate and decerebellate rigidity (De Lahunta et al., 2020b; De Lahunta et al., 2020a; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur, 1986; LeCouteur & Child, 1989), all of which could arise from trauma, it was imperative to rule out these considerations if a clear cut diagnosis of SSP was to be made. The presence of voluntary movement, postural reactions, proprioceptive positioning and superficial pain sensation in the forelimbs largely ruled out the possibility of a cervical spinal cord lesion (Braund, 1994; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Freeman & Ives, 2020; LeCouteur & Child, 1989), particularly given the absence of radiographic evidence of spinal cord trauma. Additionally, neck hyperextension is generally not a recognised feature of cervical spinal cord lesions (Braund, 1994; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; LeCouteur & Child, 1989).…”

“…Schiff–Sherrington phenomenon (SSP), variously termed Schiff–Sherrington posture, syndrome or sign, is a well‐recognized entity in small animal neurology (Bagley, 2005; Braund, 1994; Chrisman, 1991; Chrisman et al., 2003; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Fitzmaurice, 2010; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Garosi, 2012; Griffiths, 1987; Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur, 1986; LeCouteur & Child, 1989; Lorenz et al., 2011; Messonnier, 2000; Olby, 2013; Palmer, 1975; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005; Thomson & Hahn, 2012; Wheeler & Thomas, 1996). It is characterised by forelimb extensor rigidity (Bagley, 2005; Braund, 1994; Chrisman, 1991; Chrisman et al., 2003; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Fitzmaurice, 2010; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Garosi, 2012; Griffiths, 1987; Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur, 1986; LeCouteur & Child, 1989; Lorenz et al., 2011; Messonnier, 2000; Olby, 2013; Palmer, 1975; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005; Thomson & Hahn, 2012; Wheeler & Thomas, 1996), neck hyperextension (Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur & Child, 1989; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005) and hindlimb paraplegia that is often affected by transient spinal shock (Chrisman, 1991; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Garosi, 2012; Lorenz et al., 2011; Thomson & Hahn, 2012). SSP arises as a consequence of a severe peracute transverse T3 to L3 myelopathy, usually attributable to spinal cord trauma, and less frequently, spinal cord infarction or peracute intervertebral disc extrusion (Chrisman, 1991; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Fr...…”

“…It is characterised by forelimb extensor rigidity (Bagley, 2005; Braund, 1994; Chrisman, 1991; Chrisman et al., 2003; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Fitzmaurice, 2010; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Garosi, 2012; Griffiths, 1987; Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur, 1986; LeCouteur & Child, 1989; Lorenz et al., 2011; Messonnier, 2000; Olby, 2013; Palmer, 1975; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005; Thomson & Hahn, 2012; Wheeler & Thomas, 1996), neck hyperextension (Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur & Child, 1989; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005) and hindlimb paraplegia that is often affected by transient spinal shock (Chrisman, 1991; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Garosi, 2012; Lorenz et al., 2011; Thomson & Hahn, 2012). SSP arises as a consequence of a severe peracute transverse T3 to L3 myelopathy, usually attributable to spinal cord trauma, and less frequently, spinal cord infarction or peracute intervertebral disc extrusion (Chrisman, 1991; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Garosi, 2012; Lorenz et al., 2011; Thomson & Hahn, 2012).…”

“…While SSP is frequently described in the dog (Bagley, 2005; Braund, 1994; Chrisman, 1991; Chrisman et al., 2003; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Fitzmaurice, 2010; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Garosi, 2012; Griffiths, 1987; Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur, 1986; LeCouteur & Child, 1989; Lorenz et al., 2011; Messonnier, 2000; Olby, 2013; Palmer, 1975; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005; Thomson & Hahn, 2012; Wheeler & Thomas, 1996), its occurrence in the cat outside the experimental arena of decerebrate or non‐decerebrate preparations following post‐brachial spinal cord transection or cold block (Morrison & Bowker, 1971; Ruch, 1936; Ruch & Watts, 1934; Schadt & Barnes, 1980; Sprague, 1953; Wang, 1958) is poorly defined. Current textbooks of small animal neurology (Bagley, 2005; Braund, 1994; Chrisman, 1991; Chrisman et al., 2003; De Lahunta et al., 2020b; Dewey, 2016; Fitzmaurice, 2010; Freeman & Ives, 2020; Garosi, 2012; Griffiths, 1987; Jaggy & Platt, 2010; LeCouteur, 1986; Lorenz et al., 2011; Messonnier, 2000; Olby, 2013; Palmer, 1975; Sharp & Wheeler, 2005; Thomson & Hahn, 2012; Wheeler & Thomas, 1996), and their earlier editions, invariably refer to SSP in the dog or discuss its occurrence generically without specific reference to the cat. Likewise, no mention is given to SSP in many reviews on feline spinal cord disease (Goncalves et al., 2009; Marioni‐Henry, 2010; Marioni‐Henry et al., 2004), although it is discussed in one (LeCouteur, 2003) and described as ‘rarely seen in the cat’ in two others (Scott et al.,…”