Maxillofacial reconstruction in a dog following a road traffic accident
A case study and nursing care analysis
DOI: https:// doi. org / 10.56496 / HEJS8664
Hannah Turner, BSc( Hons), RVN
ENVELOPE hannah. turner @ theralph. vet
Hannah works as a neurology veterinary nurse at The Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre in Marlow. She previously worked at Eastcott Referrals after graduating from the University of Bristol in 2022. In her spare time Hannah enjoys horse riding and long walks with her two black labradors.
ABSTRACT A canine patient was presented to the referring veterinary practice 3 days after a road traffic accident, showing lethargy, hyporexia and ocular discharge. Multiple facial fractures were noted and a referral was made to a dentistry and maxillofacial surgery department.
On referral, the patient was anaesthetised for a CT scan and maxillary extractions, with further ocular surgery and fracture repair planned for the following day. After 5 days of hospitalisation, the patient was discharged.
The patient recovered well after the fracture repair and was fully recovered at the time of writing. However, some elements of the management of this case could have been improved in line with recent research findings.
As such, this case analysis will consider areas for improvement such as nutrition and analgesia, alongside successful elements of care such as endotracheal intubation using a method used less often in general veterinary practice.
In future, it would be beneficial to consider pre-emptive warming and analgesia plans for such a long surgical procedure, and appropriate monitoring of nutrition during hospitalisation should be implemented, with intervention before significant weight loss occurs.
Keywords road traffic accident, transmylohyoid, analgesia, iatrogenic fluid overload, resting energy requirement, body condition scoring
34 Veterinary Nursing Journal