Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pantarsal joint fusion surgery in cats using two plates
By Alza Salvatierra, Diego N et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2018·1 Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pantarsal arthrodesis in cats using orthogonal plating.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of six cats with severe tarsal injuries underwent a surgery called pantarsal arthrodesis (PTA), which involved using special plates to stabilize their ankle joints. While there were some complications during and after the surgery, including issues with the surgical tools and a couple of minor problems with healing, these were successfully treated. After an average of about 8.8 months, the owners reported that their cats were able to perform normal activities with very little pain, indicating a positive outcome from the surgery. Overall, the cats showed significant improvement in their mobility and comfort levels.
People also search for: cat ankle surgery recovery · pantarsal arthrodesis complications · cat pain after surgery
Abstract
Case series summary Pantarsal arthrodesis (PTA) was performed in seven tarsi of six cats, using orthogonal (dorsal and medial) veterinary cuttable plates (VCPs) without postoperative external coaptation. Short-term outcomes, arthrodesis progression and complications were assessed using a retrospective review of case notes (veterinary examination) and radiographs. Long-term outcomes were assessed via owner questionnaire (Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index [FMPI]). Mean angle of PTA was 136° (range 116-166°). Intraoperative complications were recorded in two cases, both involving failure of the drill bit during drilling for calcaneotibial screws. Postoperative complications were encountered in a case of bilateral single-session PTA. These included gastrocnemius myotendinopathy on the right, and long-term protrusion of a screw head from the skin on the left. Both complications were resolved surgically, through resection of the implicated gastrocnemius tendon of insertion and removal of the plate, respectively. FMPI assessment was performed for all six cats a mean of 8.8 months (range 6-16 months) following surgery. Mean score for the first part (assessing ability to perform normal activities) was 92.2% (range 80.9-97.1%). Mean score for the second part (owner perception of pain) was 95.8% (range 87.5-100%). Mean overall score (mean score for parts 1 and 2 combined) was 92.3% (range 81.6-97.4%). PTA may be performed in cats using orthogonal VCPs to treat severe tarsal injuries. It may be prudent to avoid single-session bilateral PTA in cats. Relevance and novel information This case series documents a novel technique as an alternative for PTA in cats with talocrural injuries. Long-term outcome and complications presented in this case series are evaluated and discussed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29172960/