Outcome of surgical stabilisation of acetabular fractures in 16 cats

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study is to describe the presentation, surgical management and perioperative outcome of cats with acetabular fractures. Methods Case records and radiographs of cats with acetabular fractures were reviewed from presentation to the end of follow-up. Surgical technique, complications, radiographic reduction and the presence of neurological deficits were recorded. Results Sixteen cats with 17 acetabular fractures met the inclusion criteria. All fractures were associated with concurrent orthopaedic injuries. All cats were either moderately or severely lame on presentation. Five fractures were stabilised using screws, wire, pins and polymethylmethacrylate, nine were repaired using a straight dynamic compression plate and three were repaired using a locking plate. Two of seven cats that were neurologically normal prior to surgery developed transient neuropraxia following surgery. There were three major complications and no minor complications. At the end of follow-up 3/16 cats had full function, whereas 13/16 had acceptable function. Conclusions and relevance All cats undergoing surgical stabilisation of acetabular fractures returned to full or acceptable function by the end of the follow-up period and there was a low number of intraoperative and short-term complications. Neurological deficits were common preoperatively, but the majority of these deficits had resolved by follow-up.

Treatment of pelvic fractures in cats with patellar fracture and dental anomaly syndrome

“…Of the 16 cats, three were judged from client history to regain full function and 13 had acceptable function after treatment. 22 Of the acetabular fractures in the cats with PADS approximately a quarter of the cats were managed directly with surgery to reduce and stabilise the fracture, or indirectly by femoral head ostectomy. Unfortunately, because of concurrent patellar fractures, it was difficult to ascertain whether surgical management made a difference in outcome in the cats in the present study, but evidence from other studies is supportive of the benefits of surgical stabilisation of articular fractures with a quicker return to function and improved joint congruency.…”

“…Unfortunately, because of concurrent patellar fractures, it was difficult to ascertain whether surgical management made a difference in outcome in the cats in the present study, but evidence from other studies is supportive of the benefits of surgical stabilisation of articular fractures with a quicker return to function and improved joint congruency. 22…”

“…Only five acetabular fractures were managed surgically, and the outcome in the cats with these acetabular fractures was not specifically reported. 9 Haine et al 22 reported 16 cats with 17 acetabular fractures, all associated with concurrent orthopaedic injuries and all managed surgically. Of the 16 cats, three were judged from client history to regain full function and 13 had acceptable function after treatment.…”

“…Unfortunately, because of concurrent patellar fractures, it was difficult to ascertain whether surgical management made a difference in outcome in the cats in the present study, but evidence from other studies is supportive of the benefits of surgical stabilisation of articular fractures with a quicker return to function and improved joint congruency. 22 Outcome Some of the cats were reported to be lame, but the cause of lameness could not be determined, whether from the pelvic fracture or the patellar fracture. Meeson and Geddes 9 reported that of 43 cats with treated pelvic fractures, 36 showed no sign of lameness and seven had some degree of permanent lameness.…”

Management and Long-Term Outcome of Acetabular Fractures in Dogs: A Retrospective Study of 49 Dogs

“…However, conservatively managing such fractures can result in malunion or poor articular reduction resulting in osteoarthritis, persistent lameness, pain and loss of function. 4,[15][16][17] Many different techniques have been described for the surgical management of acetabular fractures in dogs, including anatomically designed veterinary acetabular plates, 10,18 locking plates, 19,20 or screws with wire and pins alone, 21 or combined with polymethyl methacrylate. 22,23 Despite being relatively common, there is only limited data on the presentation and management of canine acetabular fractures.…”