Arthroscopic-assisted management of osteochondritis dissecans in the stifle of a cat

An 11-month-old, male neutered, domestic short-haired cat presented for evaluation of sudden onset right pelvic limb lameness. Radiography showed features consistent with unilateral osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the lateral femoral condyle in the right stifle. Arthroscopic examination of the stifle was used to confirm the presence of an articular cartilage lesion and the presence of loose cartilage within the joint. The loose cartilage fragments were removed arthroscopically. One arthroscopy portal was extended into a limited arthrotomy, which was necessary to ensure complete debridement of the defect. Removal of the fragments led to complete resolution of the clinical signs. This case report documents a more minimally invasive technique for the management of stifle OCD in the cat than previously documented and helps to establish a protocol for arthroscopic surgery in the feline stifle.