Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New pelvic surgery with wire spacer helps cats
By Prassinos, Nikitas N et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2007·Clinic of Surgery·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Symphyseal distraction-osteotomy using a novel spacer of spirally fashioned orthopaedic wire for the management of obstipation.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Three young domestic shorthair cats, one male and two females, were brought in for severe constipation that had been happening for about six to eight months after they had pelvic fractures. The vets found that the cats had a very full colon and a narrow pelvic canal due to the way the fractures healed. They performed a special surgery to widen the pelvic canal using a new type of metal spacer. After the surgery, the cats no longer experienced constipation, and they remained healthy for one to three years afterward.
People also search for: cat constipation treatment · pelvic fracture recovery in cats · cat obstipation surgery
Abstract
Three domestic shorthair cats, one male and two females, 17.6+/-6.5 months old and 3.5+/-0.4 kg body weight, were admitted with a 6.6+/-1.1 (range 6-8) month history of recurrent bouts of obstipation. Defecatory difficulties had started within a month of conservatively managed pelvic fractures. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed severe colonic distension with faeces and a narrow pelvic canal caused by malunion of the pelvic fractures. A pelvic symphyseal distraction-osteotomy (SDO) technique was performed, using a novel metal spacer of spirally fashioned orthopaedic wire. Pelvic canal enlargement allowed the insertion of an index finger into the rectum. Following this, no further episodes of obstipation occurred during a follow-up period of 1-3 years. The SDO technique may be successful for the treatment of obstipation secondary to post-traumatic pelvic canal stenosis in the cat, if the colon motility is not already permanently affected.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16931087/