Surgical management of traumatic elbow luxation in two cats using circumferential suture prostheses

Two Domestic Shorthaired cats were admitted after sustaining a traumatic lateral elbow luxation. Non-surgical management with reduction and external coaptation was unsuccessful at maintaining reduction. At surgery, the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) was intact but grossly elongated in one case, and ruptured in the other. Trans-condylar, trans-radial and trans-ulnar tunnels were drilled from lateral to medial and a suture prosthesis was used in order to augment a suture imbrication of the LCL in the fist cat. The prosthesis was used as a stand-alone procedure in the second case. No postoperative complications occurred and both patients regained excellent elbow range of motion without any observable lameness.