Affiliation:
1. Clinique Vétocéane 9 Allée Alphonse Fillion 44 120 Nantes France
2. Service NAC, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire des Animaux de compagnie, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle 94700 Maisons‐Alfort France
Abstract
ObjectivesTo report the short‐term clinical and radiographic outcomes in cats with femoral capital physeal fractures stabilised with transcervical pinning.Materials and MethodsMedical 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.ResultsNineteen 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 SignificanceIn 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.