Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging of a coup contrecoup traumatic brain injury in a horse

Morgan, RE; Dunkel, B; Spiro, S; Beltran, E

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.

Citation

Morgan, R., Dunkel, B., Spiro, S., & Beltran, E. (2022). Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging of a coup contrecoup traumatic brain injury in a horse. Equine Veterinary Education, https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13441

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 2, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Feb 19, 2021
• Publication Date: Mar 5, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 7, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 7, 2022
• Print ISSN: 0957-7734
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13441
• Keywords: horse; trauma; head; coup; contrecoup
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1553028