The position and structure of the atlas with relation to the brain stem and spinal cord is such that its injury may readily produce symptoms of a severe central nervous disorder

Bartelt, L. E.

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The position and structure of the atlas with relation to the brain stem and spinal cord is such that its injury may readily produce symptoms of a severe central nervous disorder.</p

Bartelt, L.

Digital Repository @ Iowa State University (ISU)

CLINICAL MEDICINE III Fractured Atlas in a Horse. The U position and structure of the atlas with relation to the brain stem and spinal cord is such that its injury may readily produce symptoms of a severe central nervous disorder. The case of interest was a gray 13-year-old gelding which was brought to the Stange Memorial Clinic June 9, 1944. While being trucked to the clinic to have a foot examined, the animal's head struck a low bridge. The horse was riding with his head facing opposite the direction of travel, so he was struck in the region of the atlanto-occipital articulation. Upon arrival at the clinic a unilateral paralysis had been established. The region of the atlas was severly bruised on the right side causing considerable swelling and some hemorrhage. A tentative diagnosis of fracture or severe injury to the atlas was made. Post Mortem During the night, the patient became delirious, leading to considerable auto-mutilation, especially about the region of the head. The paralysis had become bi-lateral making it impossible for the ani-mal to rise. Euthanasia was indicated and employed to prevent further auto-mutilation. A post-mortem examination proved the cervical region to be swollen from edema and hemorrhage. About 500 cc. of blood were removed from a 1 cm. opening inflicted in the skin over the right wing of the atlas. There was a hemorrhagic infiltration of all the soft tissues of the region. lC2 Index 1. Fractured Atlas in a Horse ................. 102 2. Pro~latitis in the Dog ... 102 3. Osteomyelitis in Equine. 103 4. Metorrhagia in the Bitch. 104 ;). Care of a Sitfast ........ lOS There was a comminuted transverse fracture of the anterior dorsal arch and right wing of the atlas. The spinal canal and arachnoid space of the spinal cord was filled with blood. The fracture of the at-las together with the initial edema and hemorrhage caused the unilateral paraly-sis exhibited when the patient first ar-rived at the clinic. As the hemorrhage surrounded the cord, the paralysis had become bilateral. A brain involvement was ruled out in the clinical diagnosis as the cause of the paralysis because injury to the brain has its effect reflected on the side of the body opposite the injury. Hence, the injury on the right side would have caused the unilateral paralysis to be registered on the left side. -L. E. Bartelt, '45 12 -I Prostatitis in the dog. Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. This disease when found in the dog is nearly always of a subacute or chronic type. The Veterinary Student 

Fractured Atlas in a Horse

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Fractured Atlas in a Horse

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