Question:
My four-year-old female cat has badly broken her front leg (both bones). She has had a splint on for 12 weeks now and vets say leg is starting to mend slowly. What is the success rate for cats with this awful problem?
Suzie Morrison, via e-mail.
Answer:
This really depends on the type of fracture she has sustained. By that I mean where and how the bones are broken, how displaced (or moved) they are, how many bits the bone is in, and if there is any crushing injury or damage to the blood supply. This can only be determined by looking at X-rays of the fracture.
Cats’ and small dogs’ bones heal quicker because there is less weight strain and cats will rest themselves more sensibly than dogs. But, if the splint is allowing even slight movement of the bones, they won’t knit.
If you are worried things aren’t going as well as expected you can have the X-rays sent to a veterinary orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion. Sometimes internal fixation of the bones (pinning or plating the bones surgically) is the best way of stabilizing fractures. But fingers crossed the bones are mending well and the splint is all that she needs!
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