Traumatic triceps tendon avulsion in a cat

Traumatic avulsion of the triceps tendon was diagnosed in a 15-month-old, male, neutered European shorthair cat. Diagnosis was established clinically by palpation of a transverse groove proximal to the olecranon and by radiography. The avulsed end of the tendon was surgically reapposed using a modified three-loop pulley suture and horizontal mattress sutures. Postoperatively, elbow flexion was limited for three weeks with the aid of a spica splint and by exercise restriction for six weeks. The cat showed no lameness after bandage removal up to the time of writing (seven months). Although rare, triceps tendon injuries can occur after a blunt trauma and should be included in the differential diagnosis of foreleg lameness in the cat. The modified three-loop pulley suture in combination with subsequent immobilisation of the limb with a splinted bandage resulted in a successful outcome in this cat with a triceps tendon avulsion.