Peripheral neuropathy: part II - Traumatic nerve injuries of the forelimb in dogs and cats: retrospective study about 48 cases

This study collected the clinical data of 48 patients which were presented with a traumatic peripheral nerve injury at the small animal clinic of the Free University of Berlin between June 1999 and January 2003. Large and medium breed dogs (37/39) were overrepresented, as well as male dogs (32). The brachial plexus was injured in 43 patients (35 dogs, 8 cats). A single nerve lesion occurred rarely (5 cases). Car injuries (36 cases), bite wounds (3 cases) or a fall (5 cases) were the most common aetiologic events. A complete avulsion of the brachial plexus was observed in 25 dogs and 3 cats, a lesion of the caudal part in 10 dogs and 5 cats. We did not observe any isolated dysfunction of the cranial part of the brachial plexus. A paralysis of the lateral thoracic nerve occurred in 92 % of cases with a complete brachial plexus avulsion, a paralysis of the sympathic nerve in 68 %. A high correlation between radial paralysis and median - ulnar nerves paralysis was observed (100 % in cases of complete brachial plexus avulsion, 70 % in cases of caudal dysfunction).