Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
External fixator treatment for ankle joint instability in 32 cats
By Kulendra, E et al.Ā·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.TĀ·2011Ā·The Royal Veterinary College, United KingdomĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Evaluation of the transarticular external skeletal fixator for the treatment of tarsocrural instability in 32 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 32 cats with unstable ankle joints (tarsocrural joint instability) were treated with a special external fixator to stabilize the joint. The cats had various injuries, including dislocations and fractures, and some had wounds that affected their treatment costs and hospital stay. The study found that using fewer pins in the fixator led to more complications, although this wasn't a strong link. Overall, the cats received care and were monitored until the fixators were removed, helping them recover from their injuries.
People also search for: cat ankle joint instability treatment Ā· external fixator for cat injury Ā· cat tarsocrural joint problems
Abstract
The medical records of all cats with tarsocrural joint instability that were treated between June 2002 and December 2008 at the Royal Veterinary College were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 32 cats were identified. Information gathered included signalment, type of injury (subluxation or luxation), concurrent fractures, presence of soft tissue wounds, transarticular external skeletal fixation (TESF) type, configuration of TESF (number of pins proximal and distal to the joint), duration of hospitalisation, duration of TESF prior to removal, complications and cost. A significant association was identified between the length of hospitalisation and the presence of wounds. Similarly a significant association was present between wounds and final cost of treatment. Additionally, the authors found that a high number of implant related complications were present when only two pins were used proximal and distal to the tarsocrural joint, but this association was not significant.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21792473/