Y-T humeral fractures with supracondylar comminution in five cats

Five cats with Y-T fractures of the humeral condyle were reviewed. Breeds presented included domestic shorthair (four cats) and Maine Coon (one cat). Age ranged from two to 16 years. All the cats were neutered males. A road traffic accident was suspected in all cases. Four of the fractures were severely comminuted and one fracture had four fragments. The fractures were repaired via combined medial and lateral approaches. Fixation of the epicondylar ridges was performed using buttress plates in four cases and neutralisation plates in one case. The intracondylar fracture was stabilised using a 2.7 mm lag screw in four cases and a 3.5 mm lag screw in the other. A corticocancellous bone graft was applied in two cases. The intracondylar fracture was accurately reduced in all cases. Complete radiographic healing was documented in two cases 6 and 11 weeks following surgery. Failure of the fixation occurred in the most severely comminuted fracture five days postoperatively. Surgical revision was not performed, and the limb was amputated. Three cats were free of lameness and had resumed outdoor activities at follow-up (five to eight months after surgery). Marked lameness due to loss of elbow movement was observed in the other case.