{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,10]],"date-time":"2026-01-10T02:33:27Z","timestamp":1768012407119,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]],"date-time":"2024-02-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708300800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>The primary objective of this retrospective study was to document the normal variation of clinical mobility of the mandibular symphysis in cats and possible associations with bodyweight, age, sex, sexual status, breed and skull morphology. Secondarily, the radiographic appearance of the mandibular symphysis and possible associations with the analyzed data were evaluated.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Materials and methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>Two hundred and sixteen cats of 15 different breeds that underwent maxillofacial, oral and dental procedures from April 2015 to December 2021 were included. Clinical mobility was evaluated under general anesthesia using a 0 to 3 scale in lateromedial (LM) and dorsoventral (DV) directions. The symphysis was radiographically classified on the occlusal radiographic view of the rostral mandibles as fused or open, and with parallel or divergent margins.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Bodyweight ranged from 2.2 to 12.5\u2009kg (median 4.0\u2009kg), age from 4\u2009months to 17\u2009years and 4\u2009months (median 6\u2009years and 4\u2009months). At the first evaluation DV symphyseal mobility was 0 in 177 cases (82%), 1 in 32 cases (14.8%) and 2 in 7 cases (3.2%), LM mobility was 0 in 61 cases (28.3%), 1 in 110 cases (50.9%) and 2 in 45 cases (20.8%). 81.1% of the radiographs were included in the statistical analysis. Three symphyses (1.6%) were classified as fused and 190 (98.4%) as open, 129 (68.8%) having divergent margins and 61 (31.6%) parallel. One hundred and forty-eight cases (76.7%) did not show the presence of odontoclastic replacement resorption on the canine teeth (TR subgroup 1), 23 (11.9%) showed stage \u22643 lesions (TR subgroup 2) and 22 (11.4%) stage 4 lesions (TR subgroup 3). Logistic regression models exploring factors that affected DV and LM mobility were statistically significant (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.0001; <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.0001) with an increase in LM mobility predicting an increase in DV mobility, and vice versa. An increase in DV mobility was associated with an increase in age and in having resorptive lesions. A decrease in LM symphyseal mobility was associated with being brachycephalic.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The great majority of cases showed some degree of LM symphyseal mobility, and 18% showed DV mobility. Symphyseal bony fusion is rare but possible.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2024.1338623","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]],"date-time":"2024-02-19T04:30:11Z","timestamp":1708317011000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Normal variation of clinical mobility of the mandibular symphysis in cats"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Sergio","family":"Minei","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Edoardo","family":"Auriemma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Serena","family":"Bonacini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michael S.","family":"Kent","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Margherita","family":"Gracis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","first-page":"158","article-title":"Arthrology","volume-title":"Miller\u2019s anatomy of the dog","author":"Evans","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref2","first-page":"30","volume-title":"Nomina anatomica veterinaria","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref3","first-page":"23","article-title":"Musculoskeletal system","volume-title":"Atlas of feline anatomy for veterinarians","author":"Hudson","year":"2010"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.3390\/ani11020405","article-title":"The cat mandible (I): anatomical basis to avoid iatrogenic damage in veterinary clinical practice","volume":"11","author":"Lombardero","year":"2021","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1002\/jmor1051670308","article-title":"Morphological investigation into functions of the jaw symphysis in carnivorans","volume":"167","author":"Scapino","year":"1981","journal-title":"J Morphol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1201\/b20288-16","article-title":"Radiography of the temporomandibular joint and mandibular symphysis","volume-title":"Practical veterinary dental radiography","author":"Gawor","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118816219.ch3","article-title":"Oral radiology and imaging","volume-title":"Wiggs\u2019s veterinary dentistry","author":"Niemec","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1002\/jmor.1051160103","article-title":"The third joint of the canine jaw","volume":"116","author":"Scapino","year":"1965","journal-title":"J Morphol"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"763","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2004.10.003","article-title":"Oral anatomy of the dog and cat in veterinary dentistry practice","volume":"35","author":"Gioso","year":"2005","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1002\/ajpa.1330770109","article-title":"A functional consequence of an ossified mandibular symphysis","volume":"77","author":"Greaves","year":"1988","journal-title":"Am J Phys Anthropol"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.1002\/1096-8644(200008)112:4<517::AID-AJPA7>3.0.CO;2-4","article-title":"Why fuse the mandibular symphysis? A comparative analysis","volume":"112","author":"Lieberman","year":"2000","journal-title":"Am J Phys Anthropol"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1002\/ajpa.1330900412","article-title":"Functional significance of an ossified mandibular symphysis: a reply","volume":"90","author":"Ravosa","year":"1993","journal-title":"Am J Phys Anthropol"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"628","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.02683","article-title":"Pushing the limit: masticatory stress and adaptive plasticity in mammalian craniomandibular joints","volume":"210","author":"Ravosa","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Exp Biol"},{"key":"ref14","first-page":"46","article-title":"Masticatory biomechanics and masseter fiber-type plasticity","volume":"10","author":"Ravosa","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Muscoloskelet Neuronal Interact"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.1177\/089875641002700404","article-title":"Lip avulsion and mandibular symphyseal separation repair in an immature cat","volume":"27","author":"White","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Vet Dent"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1177\/1098612X18776149","article-title":"Location and distribution of craniomaxillofacial fractures in 45 cats presented for the treatment of head trauma","volume":"21","author":"Tundo","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1098612X231152521","DOI":"10.1177\/1098612X231152521","article-title":"Mandibular fracture repair techniques in cats: a dentist's perspective","volume":"25","author":"Freeman","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1177\/089875640402100302","article-title":"Symphysiotomy, symphysiectomy, and intermandibular arthrodesis in a cat with open-mouth jaw locking - case report and literature review","volume":"21","author":"Reiter","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Vet Dent"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.230.1.59","article-title":"Use of three-dimensional computed tomography for diagnosis and treatment planning for open-mouth jaw locking in a cat","volume":"230","author":"Beam","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1180","DOI":"10.1177\/1098612X17737433","article-title":"Open-mouth jaw locking in cats: a literature review and use of CT in three cases","volume":"20","author":"Nutt","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"ref21","first-page":"121","article-title":"Symphysis mandibulae radiographic appearance in different conditions","author":"Gawor","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref22","first-page":"591","article-title":"Mandibular symphysis in cats. Radiographic appearance and mobility","author":"Gawor","year":""},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfms.2009.09.010","article-title":"Brachycephalic feline noses: CT and anatomical study of the relationship between head conformation and the nasolacrimal drainage system","volume":"11","author":"Schlueter","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"736","DOI":"10.1177\/1098612X19881847","article-title":"A retrospective study of more than 400 feline nasal biopsy samples in the UK (2006-2013)","volume":"22","author":"Ferguson","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.3390\/ani9070394","article-title":"Motivation of owners to purchase pedigree cats, with specific focus on the acquisition of brachycephalic cats","volume":"9","author":"Plitman","year":"2019","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1260451","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2023.1260451","article-title":"Normal variation of clinical mobility of the mandibular symphysis in dogs","volume":"10","author":"Minei","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.2460\/javma.242.1.69","article-title":"Computed tomographic findings in dogs and cats with temporomandibular joint disorders: 58 cases (2006-2011)","volume":"242","author":"Arzi","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Am Vet Med Assoc"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1177\/08987564221141985","article-title":"Morphometry and morphology of the articular surfaces of the medial region of the temporomandibular joint in the Felis Catus (domestic cat) - a cone Beam computed tomography study","volume":"40","author":"Villamizar-Martinez","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Vet Dent"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2018.00076","article-title":"Bite forces and their measurement in dogs and cats","volume":"5","author":"Kim","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"806","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfms.2011.09.002","article-title":"Head trauma in the cat: 1. Assessment and management of craniofacial injury","volume":"13","author":"Adamantos","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1532-950x.1988.tb01028.x","article-title":"Mandibular fractures in the cat. A retrospective study","volume":"17","author":"Umphlet","year":"1988","journal-title":"Vet Surg"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"985","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2005.03.003","article-title":"Maxillofacial fracture repairs","volume":"35","author":"Legendre","year":"2005","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1177\/1098612X13477541","article-title":"Feline mandibular fractures: a significant surgical challenge","volume":"15","author":"Woodbridge","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Feline Med Surg"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-5827.2001.tb02497.x","article-title":"Prevalence of odontoclastic resorptive lesions in a population of clinically healthy cats","volume":"42","author":"Inghman","year":"2001","journal-title":"J Small Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"140","DOI":"10.1177\/089875640302000301","article-title":"Prevalence of dental resorptive lesions in Swedish cats","volume":"20","author":"Pettersson","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Vet Dent"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1177\/089875641303000202","article-title":"Risk assessment of feline tooth resorption: a Portuguese clinical case control study","volume":"30","author":"Mestrinho","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Vet Dent"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"791","DOI":"10.1016\/S0195-5616(02)00027-X","article-title":"Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions an unsolved enigma in veterinary dentistry","volume":"32","author":"Reiter","year":"2002","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1177\/089875640402100102","article-title":"Mapping of the radiographic central point of feline dental resorptive lesions","volume":"21","author":"Harvey","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Vet Dent"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"913","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvsm.2005.03.006","article-title":"Update on the etiology of tooth resorption in domestic cats","volume":"35","author":"Reiter","year":"2005","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2024.1338623\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]],"date-time":"2024-02-19T04:30:16Z","timestamp":1708317016000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2024.1338623\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]]},"references-count":39,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2024.1338623"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2024.1338623","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]]},"article-number":"1338623"}}