AUTHOR=Wolfs Elias , Arzi Boaz , Guerrero Cota Jose , Kass Philip H. , Verstraete Frank J. M. 

TITLE=Craniomaxillofacial trauma in immature dogs–etiology, treatments, and outcomes

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.932587

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.932587

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=Treatment of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma in dogs often requires a multidisciplinary approach and thorough understanding of the CMF anatomical structures involved. The aim of this retrospective study was to utilize computed tomography (CT) studies of juvenile dogs evaluated for CMF trauma and to describe common fracture locations, treatment modalities, and complications, as well as the fracture healing outcomes. The medical records and CT studies of 94 dogs under 1 year of age over a 13-year period were evaluated. The skeletal location of CMF fractures, as well as the severity of displacement and fragmentation of each fracture, was recorded. Case demographic data and trauma etiology were also recorded. Animal bites accounted for the majority of trauma (71.0%). The most likely bone or region to be fractured was the maxillary bones, followed by the molar region of the mandibles. Up to 37 bones or regions were fractures in any given patient, with an average of 8.8 fractured bones or regions per dog. Rostral mandibular trauma was associated with intra-articular fractures of the temporomandibular joint (P=0.016). Patients sustained concomitant injuries in 32% of the cases. Muzzle therapy was the main treatment for most dogs (53.2%), followed by soft tissue closure (47.9%) and selective dental extractions (27.6%). Healing complications were recorded in 71.6% of the dogs, with malocclusion being the most reported complication (55.2%), and associated with dentate mandibular jaw fractures (P=0.05). The average number of complications per dog was 2.4. No statistically significant association was found between treatment modality and healing outcome. There was a negative correlation between severity of fracture fragmentation and displacement and healing outcome. Further treatment was required in 55.6% of the dogs. Additional dental extractions were performed in 77.7% of patients. Healing complications were common in the juvenile craniomaxillofacial trauma case. Thus, the need for comprehensive assessment of the entire CMF region during the initial visit, as well as follow-up, preferably using CT or Cone Beam CT, is underscored.