Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term outcomes after traumatic elbow dislocation in 32 cats
By Williams, H et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2020·Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Multi-centre retrospective study of the long-term outcome following suspected traumatic elbow luxation in 32 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 32 cats with elbow luxations (dislocated elbows) were treated at five veterinary centers to see how well different treatment methods worked. Most of the cats had their elbows dislocated laterally, and they were either treated with closed reduction (manipulating the joint back into place) or surgery. The results showed that while many cats had good to excellent outcomes, those treated with closed reduction had a higher chance of the elbow dislocating again compared to those who had surgery. Overall, most cats recovered well, with low pain scores reported by their owners.
People also search for: cat elbow dislocation treatment · cat joint pain recovery · cat surgery elbow luxation
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe reduction techniques and clinical outcome in a series of traumatic elbow luxations in cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of unilateral elbow luxations treated at five specialist referral centres. Data included signalment, aetiology, concurrent injuries, luxation direction, time to reduction, primary reduction technique, surgical procedure and complications. Cases were excluded if reduction technique was unknown. Telephone owner questionnaire follow-up was completed using a Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index. RESULTS: Thirty-two cats were included. Lateral luxations were most common (n = 21). Time (hours) until attempted initial closed reduction was <24 (n = 12), 24-48 (n = 13), >48 (n = 3) or unrecorded (n = 4). Luxation was treated by closed reduction alone (n = 7) or by surgery (n = 25); 14 of 25 cases underwent primary surgical reduction and 11 of 25 were secondary procedures following failure of closed reduction. Transcondylar bone tunnels and circumferential suture (n = 19) was the most commonly used surgical technique. Catastrophic (n = 1), major (n = 11) and minor complications (n = 5) were recorded; reluxation occurred more frequently after closed reduction (n = 8) than after open reduction with fixation (n = 0). Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index data were available for 12 cats; outcome was good-excellent in all 12, with a median function score of 64.5/68 (range: 55-68) and a median pain score of 0/15 (range: 0-5). Outcome was not associated with reduction technique. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Elbow reluxation occurred in 61% of cats following primary closed reduction but did not occur in any open reduction cases. Reluxation rate increased with duration from injury. Most cats had good-excellent owner-assessed outcome, regardless of reduction technique.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32346883/