High-rise syndrome nel gatto: studio retrospettivo su 33 casi (2011-2019)

Abstract

High-Rise Syndrome (HRS) was diagnosed in 33 cats over a period of 8 years (15 December 2011-17 July 2019). Four cats have relapsed twice and one cat has relapsed four times. The mean age of the cats was 3,1 years. 48% of cats were younger than two years. Fifteen cats were males and eleven cats were females; of these, ten (58%) were castrated males and eight (73%) were spayed females. Twenty-five cats were Domestic Shorthair and one was Maine Coon. Cats fell from the height of first to the 5th floor and the average height of the fall was three stories. HRS was more frequent during the warmer period of the year. Forty-two percent of the cats were affected by thoracic trauma. Of these, 86% had pulmonary contusion, 43% had costal fractures, 29% had pneumothorax and 21% had pleural effusion. Forty-one percent of the cats had limb fractures; 63% of fractures were of the forelimb, 37% of the hindlimb. Other common clinical findings included facial trauma (30%), abdominal injuries (21%) like hepatic contusions, splenic contusions and bladder contusions, traumatic luxations (9%). Emergency treatment was required in 66% of the cats. 42% of the cats required orthopedic surgery. One hundred percent of the treated cats survived.