Surgical stabilisation of a traumatic comminuted vertebral fracture/luxation in a Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum)

Abstract

We report the case of a 1-year-old, male, entire Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) presented unable to walk as a result of a traumatic comminuted vertebral fracture/luxation and successfully treated with surgical stabilisation using pins and polymethyl methacrylate. The diagnosis was based on neurological examination and computed tomography. The surgery was performed the same day of presentation and the patient recovered well after surgery, eating, urinating and defecating within the next 24 hours. In this paper, we discuss the anaesthetic and peri-anaesthetic management as well as the postoperative medical considerations, focusing on important anatomical aspects of the species and the surgical procedure that has not been described in maras before.