Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Minimally invasive bone fracture repair in cats using special nails
By Deglume, Esther et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2026·CHV des Cordeliers, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: EXPRESS: Minimally invasive application of a precontoured angle-stable interlocking nail in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 26 cats, averaging 5 years old, underwent surgery to fix long bone fractures using a special type of nail that requires less invasive techniques. Most of the cats healed well, with only a couple of minor issues reported after surgery, such as slight nail flexion and a small fissure that didn’t affect the implants. One cat had a more serious problem when the nail fractured, but overall, all the cats fully recovered and didn’t need any implants removed. This method of surgery seems to be safe and effective for treating fractures in cats.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to record cases of cats that underwent long bone fracture stabilization using minimally invasive nail osteosynthesis with a precontoured titanium interlocking nail (Surg'X®), and to report outcomes and associated complications. METHODS: Cats treated with a precontoured angle-stable interlocking nail at a single hospital center between June 2022 and September 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Collected data included the signalment, fracture characteristics, cause of trauma, concomitant injuries, implant size, as well as intraoperative and postoperative complications and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 26 cats were included in this study (mean age 5.2 years). One cat died of concomitant disease. All but one fractures were successfully treated using a minimally invasive approach. One cat required conversion to an open approach due to a propagation of a fissure through the fracture line during nail insertion. Among the 25 cats available for follow-up, two minor post-operative complications (8%) were noted: one nail flexion and one opening of a fissure line, without affecting the implants. Additionally, one major complication occurred (4%), involving nail fracture. Long-term functional outcomes were evaluated for each patient (12 to 83 weeks postoperatively) through a questionnaire, demonstrating full functional recovery in all cats. No implant removal was needed. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Minimally invasive nail osteosynthesis of a precontoured angle-stable interlocking is feasible in cats, and associated with a low complication rate and excellent clinical outcomes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41992420/