A Case of Suspected Traumatic Atlantoaxial Instability in a Cat with Favorable Progress on Medical Treatment

Abstract

A 3-month-old male ragdoll presented with acute tetraparesis for which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. No abnormal findings were obtained on radiation under anesthesia. MRI revealed an abnormal signal intensity in the spinal cord parenchyma at the level of the dens. The cerebrospinal fluid test was suggestive of hemorrhage. Based on these findings, this case was suspected as traumatic atlantoaxial instability. The cat was treated with neck external fixation, strict cage rest, medication, and physical therapy; the progress with the treatment was favorable. The lesion in the spinal cord parenchyma, which was suspected to be injured, was found to have become a cavity by sequential MRI examinations, suggesting future residual neurological symptoms. Evaluating spinal cord parenchyma by sequential MRI examinations for feline atlantoaxial instability is useful in determining the sequelae of the disease.