Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) in cat: a case report

Abstract

The observations of the study were focused on the lumbosacral region of the spine in cats in order to identify some peculiarities or abnormalities in the anatomical conformation regarding the number of the vertebra or other morphological aspects. For this purpose were analyzed the radiographs of the lumbosacral region of 63 feline patients of a veterinary clinic, both males and females, 1-9 years aged, which showed various symptoms, especially locomotor. The x-ray exam revealed sundries pathologies of the spine, but among them in a cat of European breed it was remarked an abnormal anatomical conformation of the lumbosacral spine consisting in the sacralization of the last lumbar vertebra. It was noticed that the last lumbar vertebra is fused with the first sacral one in a large degree, both vertebral bodies and the transverse processes being merged, the sacrum bone containing four sacral vertebra instead of three, as normally does. It was counted also three ventral sacral foramina, instead of two. The particular characteristics noticed conducted to the observation that the last lumbar vertebra represents in fact a lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) which in cats occurs at a low rate.