Stabilisation of femoral capital physeal fractures using transcervical pinning in cats: 19 cases (2014-2022).

OBJECTIVES: To report the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes in cats with femoral capital physeal fractures stabilised with transcervical pinning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of cats diagnosed with femoral capital physeal fractures and treated with transcervical pinning were reviewed. The collected data included signalment, weight, time from lameness to surgery, reported trauma, affected side, concomitant orthopaedic injuries, radiographs, osteoarthritis, femoral neck osteolysis, proximal femoral epiphysis to femoral neck ratio, fracture reduction, implants, complications and clinical evaluation results. An owner questionnaire was used for long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Nineteen cats with a total of 21 fractures met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen of the 19 cats showed no signs of lameness at the 1-month follow-up. Major and catastrophic complications occurred in 9.5% and 23.8% of the fractures, respectively. All catastrophic complications occurred in fractures with a high preoperative osteolysis grade (2 or 3). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In our study, transcervical pinning was found to be a reliable fixation method for the treatment of femoral capital physeal fractures in cats with minimal preoperative femoral neck osteolysis. High rates of implant failure with loss of fracture reduction were observed in cats with high-grade preoperative osteolysis.

Comparison of the different supports used in veterinary medicine for pressure sore prevention.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the pressure-relieving capacity of different supports used in veterinary medicine and to find the more common pressure sore locations in laterally recumbent dogs, so as to recommend protocols for decubitus ulcer prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the support properties of: (1) blankets on the floor, (2) a standard mattress, (3) a veterinary memory foam mattress and (4) a human medicine memory foam mattress. Three cadaver dogs with different body condition scores but similar sizes were positioned on the different supports in lateral recumbency. Pressures were measured in each dog and at each support contact point over a 4-hour period using a TexiSense pressure mat. RESULTS: Regardless of the body condition score and the support used, the skin overlying the scapula-humeral articulation, the greater trochanter and the thirteenth rib were the recurrent risk zones. In these risk zones, pressure-relieving mats led to lower pressures than did the standard mats or the blanket placed on the floor. The contact pressures appeared to depend on body condition score, with maximal pressures observed in thin dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: It is important to use a pressure-relieving mat to reduce the risk of pressure sores, but static pressure-relieving mats are generally insufficient to maintain safe pressures in risk zones (<60 mmHg), particularly in thin patients, and so frequent changes in position are recommended.