Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Custom total knee replacement surgery in cats with knee injuries
By Fitzpatrick, Noel et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2021·Fitzpatrick Referrals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Custom-built constrained uniaxial and rotating hinge total knee replacement in cats: Clinical application, design principles, surgical technique, and clinical outcome.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Nine cats with severe knee injuries, either from trauma or deformities, underwent custom total knee replacements (TKR) to help them regain mobility. After the surgery, most of the cats showed good to excellent recovery, with owners reporting significant improvements in their pets' pain and function. One cat did experience a serious complication, but overall, the procedure proved to be a promising option for treating severe knee problems in cats. The follow-up period averaged around a year, and the results suggest that custom TKRs can be effective for cats with serious knee issues.
People also search for: cat knee surgery recovery · custom total knee replacement cats · cat limping after injury · feline stifle problems treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the design principles and evolution, surgical technique, and outcome for custom constrained (uniaxial and rotating hinge) total knee replacement (TKR) in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Nine cats with traumatic stifle luxation (n = 8) or severe distal femoral deformity (n = 1) were considered suitable candidates. METHODS: Cats that met eligibility criteria and received a custom TKR between 2009 and 2018 by a single surgeon were included in this case series. Three generations of implant were used. Implant positioning was assessed by postoperative orthogonal radiography. Functional outcome was determined by clinical assessment, owner interview, and a feline musculoskeletal pain index questionnaire. RESULTS: Median clinical follow-up time was 12 months (range, 4-41); follow-up time was increased to 29 months (range, 22-47) when results of functional questionnaires with owner were included. Median radiographic follow-up was 12 months (range, 4-25). One cat had a catastrophic outcome. Three cats had good outcomes, and five cats had excellent outcomes. CONCLUSION: Most cats treated with custom-built TKR achieved good to excellent outcomes. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Custom TKR is a viable option for the treatment of severe pathologies of the feline stifle. Additional research is required to fully evaluate implant suitability.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34224167/