Abstract

SALINAS CAMPOS, Eben; CHAVEZ RIVERA, Edith  and  ZEA MENDOZA, Otto. Post-traumatic pneumorrhachis in a dog American Staffordshire Terrier breed. Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2017, vol.12, n.3, pp.230-235. ISSN 1900-9607.  https://doi.org/10.21615/cesmvz.12.3.5.

Pneumorrhachis is the presence of intratracheal air and may be extra or intramedullary. Its relationship with traumatic events in the thoracic cavity such as pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum has been demonstrated. We present the case of a dog of the American Staffordshire Terrier breed, which suffered a fall accident from a height of two floors, producing a severe thoracic trauma with the presence of pneumomediastinum. Thoracentesis was performed to restore respiratory function and thoracic negativity. In the neurological examination, the patient presented spastic paraplegia, hyperesthesia at the level of the thoracolumbar spine and urinary incontinence. Simple x-rays of the spine were taken without conclusive results, so a multislice helical tomography was performed, finding air in the intrarachidian location compatible with traumatic Pneumorrhachis. Although the Pneumorrhachis is reported as benign, in the present case, it triggered severe alterations in the medullary tissue with serious neurological consequences.

Keywords : Pneumothorax; pneumomediastinum; paraplegia; tomography.

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