Traumatic stifle injury in 72 cats: a multicentre retrospective study

Coppola, M. et al. (2022) Traumatic stifle injury in 72 cats: a multicentre retrospective study. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 24(6), pp. 587-595. (doi: 10.1177/1098612X211028834) (PMID:34254845) (PMCID:PMC9160948)

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Abstract

Objectives The aim of the study was to describe traumatic stifle injury in cats and report complications and long-term outcome. Methods The medical records from seven veterinary hospitals of cats treated for traumatic stifle injury were reviewed. Long-term follow-up data were collected from referring veterinarians and using the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index, collected from owners. Results Seventy-two cats were included in the study. The most common combination of ligament injury involved both cruciate ligaments and the lateral collateral ligament (25.4%). Medial meniscal injury was more common (66.2%) than lateral meniscal injury (59.4%). A temporary transarticular pin was used intraoperatively to aid reduction in 23/73 (31.5%) surgeries. Postoperative immobilisation was applied in 41/72 (56.9%) cats with a mean duration of 4.8 weeks. Short-term complications occurred in 40/64 (62.5%) cats. Long-term complications occurred in seven (17.5%) cats. Overall outcome was excellent in 25/61 (41%) cats, good in 13/61 (21.3%) cats, fair in 11/61 (18%) cats and poor in 12/61 (19.7%) cats. Mean length of follow-up was 29.6 months (range 0.5–204). A significantly poorer outcome was observed in cats with medial meniscal injury and those undergoing revision surgery. Use of a transarticular pin when left in situ for postoperative immobilisation was associated with a poorer outcome (P = 0.043) and a higher risk of complications (P = 0.018). Postoperative immobilisation was not related to outcome. Conclusions and relevance Traumatic stifle injury in cats can lead to rupture of multiple ligaments causing significant instability of the joint. Surgical treatment is associated with a high rate of short-term complications, although long-term outcome may still be good to excellent in the majority of cats (62.3%). In cats where follow-up was available, postoperative immobilisation had no positive effect on outcome and may not be required. Leaving a transarticular pin for postoperative immobilisation is not recommended as it was significantly associated with a poorer outcome and a higher complication rate.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Parkin, Professor Tim and Coppola, Mario and Addison, Miss Elena and Aisa Roig, Dr Josep
Authors: Coppola, M., Das, S., Matthews, G., Cantatore, M., Silva, L., Lafuente, P., Kulendra, E., Clarke, H., McCarthy, J., Fernandez-Salesa, N., Langley-Hobbs, S., Aisa Roig, J., Parkin, T., and Addison, E. S.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:1098-612X
ISSN (Online):1532-2750
Published Online:13 July 2021
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s) 2021
First Published:First published in Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 24(6): 587-595
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

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