Broken Kneecap

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Wideass - 13 Feb 2005 20:02 GMT

A few weeks ago, our cat was beaten up by the local bully tomcat. A
visit to the local vet and an x-ray proved that she had broken a
kneecap. The treatment was surgery (at a specialist vet). A hole was
drilled through both halves of the kneecap and they were tied together
with some fine wire (I believe that this is called a "tension band").
She had the whole leg bandaged straightened out for a day (which drove
her crazy as she couldn't balance at all, even though she was confined
to a cage). The local vet removed the bandage the next day and she
seemed OK after that. We kept her in a cage, being let out into a room
for a short time each day (supervised). 2 weeks later, the vet said
that she was making good progress (she was walking with a slight
limp), but advised us to keep her in the cage for a couple more weeks.
After another two weeks later (4 weeks after the operation), her
walking regressed from a limp to a hop (no weight on the bad leg). She
didn't seem to be in pain, but another x-ray showed that the kneecap
was again in 2 or 3 pieces. Tomorrow she will be going back to the
specialist vet.
Apologies for the long preamble, here are the questions:
1. Has anyone heard of this sort of injury? The only cat kneecap stuff
I can find is slipping kneecap (luxating patella?)
2. Has anyone heard of this method of treatment? If so, do you know
anything of its success rate? Can it be repeated?
3. Has anyone heard of any alternative treatment?
4. Can a cat function without a kneecap?
Thanks.

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Mary - 13 Feb 2005 20:22 GMT

> A few weeks ago, our cat was beaten up by the local bully tomcat. A
> visit to the local vet and an x-ray proved that she had broken a
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> 4. Can a cat function without a kneecap?
> Thanks.

Crossposted to the vet group so the vets can see this

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Spot - 14 Feb 2005 03:58 GMT

If the knee won't heal I would be more inclined to have the leg amputated.
Cats do remarkable well on 3 legs and adjust very quickly. I have a Siamese
mix who had cancer and we had to have her back leg amputated. She was up
and getting about in less than 2 days times.

Celeste

> > A few weeks ago, our cat was beaten up by the local bully tomcat. A
> > visit to the local vet and an x-ray proved that she had broken a
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Crossposted to the vet group so the vets can see this

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Wideass - 14 Feb 2005 08:14 GMT

Thanks for the replies so far:

It's quite possible that the fracture was caused by knocking into
something (a step?) whilst running away in terror (our cat is not much
of a fighter).

We're hoping that an amputation is not necessary. This is the second
leg injury in a year. I have no doubt that a cat can adapt to having
one back leg, but what if she injures the remaining one?

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Annie Wxill - 15 Feb 2005 01:11 GMT

> It's quite possible that the fracture was caused by knocking into
> something (a step?) whilst running away in terror (our cat is not much
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> leg injury in a year. I have no doubt that a cat can adapt to having
> one back leg, but what if she injures the remaining one?

Hi,
I hope your cat is able to recover.
It sounds like the only solution to your dilemma is to keep your cat inside
or make a fenced area where he can be safe.

Then, he would not have to run away in terror or have to fight.

It wouldn't guarantee that your cat will never have another injury, but
keeping him in a protected environment would be sure to reduce his chances
of getting hurt again. I bet you could use the money you save on vet bills
to put up a pretty nice enclosure.
Annie

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William Hamblen - 13 Feb 2005 22:46 GMT

> A few weeks ago, our cat was beaten up by the local bully tomcat. A
> visit to the local vet and an x-ray proved that she had broken a
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> 3. Has anyone heard of any alternative treatment?
> 4. Can a cat function without a kneecap?

The only experience I've had is when Spotsie tore a ligament in her
stifles. She suddenly developed a limp. X-ray showed one of the small
bones in her stifles was displaced. The veterinary surgeon I talked
to said that it was a common injury in large dogs, but that he had
never seen it in a cat. The dog either is struck by a car or jumps
and lands wrong. He advised to just rest her for a few days. If the
limp didn't improve they could do surgery. Her lameness got better on
its own and we never did the surgery. I was a little reluctant to put
the cat through surgical trauma if not absolutely needed. The result
might not have been any better with surgery. As it is Spotsie can jump
to the top of the refrigerator as well as she ever could. The joint
might become arthritic in the future, but so far so good. Surgery is
no longer possible after all this time, anyway. I think Spotsie did
as well as she did because an 8 pound cat doesn't put as much stress
on its joints as does an 80 pound dog.

I can't imagine how a cat could break its patella in a catfight.
It happens in humans as the result of a fall or an autombile accident.
I think the cat might have been struck by a car or kicked.

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