Abstract
ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to describe traumatic stifle injury in cats and report complications and long-term outcome.MethodsThe 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.ResultsSeventy-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 relevanceTraumatic 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.
Highlights
Stifle joint disruption, derangement or luxation is relatively uncommon in cats.[1]
The purpose of this paper is to describe traumatic stifle injury in a large number of cats and to investigate factors associated with outcome and complications
Owing to the low number of questionnaires received, the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) score was not used for final outcome analysis; the results provide long-term follow-up in cats with disrupted stifles, which has not been previously reported
Summary
Derangement or luxation is relatively uncommon in cats.[1] These terms are used interchangeably. Severe instability of the stifle is due to damage of the primary joint restraints, such as cruciate and collateral ligaments and secondary joint restraint tissues, such as the joint capsule, menisci, tendons and muscles.[2] These injuries are often caused by high-energy trauma such as road traffic accidents, falls or catching the limb while jumping a fence.[3,4]. The medial collateral ligament is more commonly affected than the lateral collateral ligament.[5] The most common combination of injuries reported in the literature involves the cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments and the medial collateral ligament.[6,7]
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