Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to treat complex and open fractures in cats
By Corr, Sandra·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2012·School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Complex and open fractures: a straightforward approach to management in the cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with a broken leg, often from a car accident, may seem like a serious case that needs a specialist. However, many of these injuries can be treated effectively by a regular veterinarian using straightforward methods. The review highlights how open fractures (where the bone breaks through the skin) and complex fractures can be stabilized with proper techniques and equipment that most general practices have. By following basic principles of fracture management, many cats can recover well without needing to see a specialist or undergo amputation.
People also search for: cat broken leg treatment · open fractures in cats · how to care for a cat with a fracture
Abstract
CLINICAL CHALLENGES: Cats often present with traumatic injuries of the limbs, including complex and open fractures, frequently as a result of road traffic accidents. On initial assessment, complex and open fractures may appear to require expertise beyond the experience of the general practitioner and, in some cases, referral to a specialist may be indicated or amputation should be considered. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Many cases, however, can be managed using straightforward principles. This review describes a logical and practical approach to treating such injuries. It discusses general principles of fracture management, highlights the treatment of open fractures, and describes the use of external skeletal fixation for stabilisation of both open and complex fractures. EQUIPMENT: Most fractures can be stabilised using equipment and expertise available in general practice if the basic principles of fracture fixation are understood and rigorously applied. EVIDENCE BASE: Many textbooks and journal articles have been published on the management of fractures in companion animals, presenting case studies, case series and original biomechanical research. The simple strategy for managing complex injuries that is provided in this review is based on the published literature and the author's clinical experience.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22247325/