Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Complications and outcomes of traumatic knee dislocation in cats
By Venzo, Giorgia et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2025·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Complications and outcomes of traumatic stifle luxation in 18 cats treated by temporary double cerclage wires.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An injured cat was treated for a traumatic stifle (knee) luxation, which is when the knee joint becomes dislocated. The cat underwent surgery using a special technique with double cerclage wires to stabilize the joint. After the surgery, the cat wore a bandage for two weeks and was monitored for complications, which included some swelling and a couple of infections. Most cats showed excellent recovery, with 15 out of 18 doing very well after treatment, while 3 had good outcomes. Overall, this surgical method proved effective for helping cats regain function in their injured knees.
People also search for: cat knee injury treatment · cat stifle luxation surgery · cat joint swelling after surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical findings, surgical procedure, complications, and outcomes associated with a novel surgical technique using double cerclage wires to address traumatic stifle luxation in cats. ANIMALS: 18 cats (19 stifles). CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Cats treated for traumatic stifle injury between 2015 and 2023 with a double femoral-tibial cerclage wire placed in the sagittal plane in a quasi-isometric position and a follow-up at a minimum of 8 weeks postoperatively were included. Data collection included signalment, intraoperative findings of ligament and meniscal injuries, and short-term postoperative complications. Long-term follow-up data were obtained via physical examination or telephone interviews with the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index. RESULTS: The mean age and body weight at presentation were 7 years and 4.7 kg, respectively. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture was present in all cats. Caudal cruciate ligament rupture was complete in 16 of 19 stifles and partial in 1 of 19. The medial collateral ligament was injured in 11 of 19 stifles and the lateral in 9 of 19 stifles. The medial meniscus was damaged in 6 of 19 stifles and the lateral in 5 of 19 stifles. All cats wore a modified Robert-Jones bandage for 14 days postoperatively. Short-term complications included superficial wound infection (2 of 19) and moderate joint swelling (13 of 19). Implants were systematically removed starting at 8 weeks postoperatively. Cerclage wire rupture was observed in 7 stifles on radiographic rechecks. The outcome was considered excellent in 15 cats and good in 3, based on owner assessment and clinical examination. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of a double cerclage wire to treat traumatic stifle luxation in cats resulted in successful long-term functional recovery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40840520/