Epidemiological, clinical, and electrophysiological findings in dogs and cats with traumatic brachial plexus injury: A retrospective study of 226 cases

Abstract

Background The imaging and electrodiagnostic (EDX) characteristics of traumatic brachial plexus injury (TBPI) are incompletely reported. Objectives To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and EDX characteristics of TBPIs in a series of cases in dogs and cats; to determine the association between clinical data, EDX findings, and clinical outcomes; and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of EDX studies to classify nerve lesions. Animals One hundred and seventy‐five dogs and 51 cats with TBPI and EDX exploration of radial nerve, ulnar nerve, or both nerves. Methods Retrospective case series. All medical records were searched for dogs and cats presenting with TBPIs that underwent EDX exploration. Epidemiological, clinical, EDX, and follow‐up data were extracted. Association between clinical data, EDX findings, and clinical outcomes was explored. Results Forty‐six percent of affected animals were injured before 2 years of age and 57% of dogs weighed more than 20 kg. The radial compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude for dogs and cats that had clinical improvement was higher than in animals without improvement (4.3 mV [0‐23.6] vs 0 mV [0‐2.4], respectively, P = .02). A discriminating radial CMAP amplitude threshold value of 5 mV had a specificity of 93% (95% CI [80‐100]) to predict recovery. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Electrodiagnostic studies, particularly measurement of radial CMAP amplitude, are valuable diagnostic tests to refine the prognosis of these animals.

The Structure of the Brachial Plexus in Selected Representatives of the Caniformia Suborder

“…The similarities demonstrated in our study suggest that it is possible to use the techniques of surgery and anaesthesia applied to the domestic dog [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. The knowledge of the anatomy of nerves and muscle innervation is used in clinical diagnostics— for example, to differentiate injuries in the brachial plexus and around the periphery of the thoracic limb [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ].…”

Traumatic injury of left femoral nerve causing unilateral hindlimb lameness in a cat

“…Traumatic injury is a common cause for neurological and orthopaedic causes of lameness in small animals. [1][2][3][4]6,7,11 Outdoor access increases the risk of traumatic injury in cats. 13 As such, lameness in a cat noticed directly after unsupervised outdoor access is highly likely to have a traumatic aetiology, although other aetiologies cannot be directly excluded.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Traumatic brachial plexus injury is a frequent cause for monoparesis or monoplegia in dogs and cats. 6,7 Damage to peripheral named nerves, such as the radial or sciatic nerve injury, are reported fairly frequently in large animals such as horses and cattle, and small animals such as dogs and cats. [8][9][10][11][12] Traumatic femoral nerve injury is reported in cattle, but uncommonly diagnosed in small animals.…”

Use of Electrodiagnostics in the Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Brachial Plexus Syndrome in a Calf

“…In fact, nerve root avulsion, resulting in axon and myelin sheath rupture of both dorsal and ventral roots at the junction with the spinal cord, determines a condition of neurotmesis and recovery is only possible following surgery. On the other hand, proximal axonal lesions determine distal axonal degeneration, with changes similar to peripheral nerve injuries [ 20 ].…”

“…To make a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis, a motor NCS was performed 5 weeks after admission, and low amplitude CMAPs were elicited. According to CMAP amplitude, lesions can be classified as minor axonotmesis with normal/subnormal CMAP amplitude, severe axonotmesis with severely decreased CMAP amplitude, or neurotmesis with no elicited CMAP [ 20 ]. On the basis of these findings, a diagnosis of axonotmesis was made.…”