Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging of a coup contrecoup traumatic brain injury in a horse |
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Authors: | R E Morgan B Dunkel S Spiro E Beltran |
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Institution: | 1. The Royal Veterinary College, Equine Referral Hospital, Hatfield, UK;2. Wildlife Health Services, Zoological Society of London, London, UK |
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Abstract: | A 3-year-old Thoroughbred mare found recumbent in the field was referred for further assessment with suspicion of a skull fracture. Neurological examination identified compulsive tight circling to the left, and hypermetria in all four limbs. The mare was obtunded, with a mild head tilt to the right, absent menace response of the right eye and decreased facial sensation on the right. Standing computed tomographic examination revealed a subtle depression fracture of the dorsal calvarium and moderate intra-axial midline shift consistent with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite supportive treatment, the mare deteriorated and was subjected to euthanasia. Post-mortem high field magnetic resonance imaging revealed findings consistent with a small cerebral contusion adjacent to the fracture site, and moderate to severe ipsilateral cerebral oedema within the caudal cerebrum and rostral brainstem, consistent with a coup contrecoup TBI. Brainstem lesions indicate a poor prognosis and support the decision for euthanasia. This is the first report of the imaging findings of a coup contrecoup TBI in a horse. |
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Keywords: | horse trauma head coup contrecoup |
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