CHAPTER 11. 



DISEASES OF THE SPINAL CORD. 



TRAUMATIC INJURY OF THE SPINAL CQRD. 



Contusion of the Cord. "Broken Neck." 

 "Broken Back." 



Definition. — A bruising or laceration of the cord due to 

 direct or indirect injury and usually the result of fracture of 

 vertebrae. 



Occurrence. — Traumatic injury to the cord is not uncom- 

 mon in horses. Occasionally it occurs among cattle and more 

 rarely in swine and sheep. 



Etiology. — It is usually due to falls, blows, and in horses 

 from struggling in the hopples especially if the animal is 

 permitted to arch the back and neck upward, the head not 

 being held properly. Either fracture or dislocation of verte- 

 brae results leading to sudden pressure upon the cord with 

 bruising and sometimes laceration. In some instances osteo- 

 porosis of the vertebrae predisposes to fracture; very rarely 

 fissures of the vertebrae exist. Obviously a hemorrhage into 

 the cord occurs. In rare instances the injury to the cord is 

 due to the blood clot alone, neither dislocation nor fracture of 

 the vertebrae having taken place. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms will depend upon what part of 

 the cord is injured and the degree of injury. If the cervical 

 portion between the medulla oblongata and the origin of the 

 fifth and sixth cervical nerves is involved and the cord com- 

 pletely crushed, the patient will die almost immediately from 

 respiratory arrest. If only a part of the cord is crushed, how- 

 ever, it is possible for the patient to live several hours or 

 even weeks after the accident. It will show symptoms of 

 paralysis behind the seat of injury, dysphagia, dyspnea, and 

 slow pulse. 



If the cord is crushed just behind the origin of the phrenic 



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