Pantarsal arthrodesis in cats using orthogonal plating

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Orthopedics
• Feline Medicine

Background:

• Severe tarsal injuries in cats often require surgical intervention.
• Pantarsal arthrodesis (PTA) is a procedure to fuse the tarsal joints.
• Novel techniques are needed to improve outcomes and reduce complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes of pantarsal arthrodesis in cats.
• To assess the efficacy and complication rate of using orthogonal veterinary cuttable plates (VCPs) without external coaptation.
• To determine the functional recovery and pain perception in cats post-PTA.

Main Methods:

• A case series involving seven tarsi in six cats undergoing PTA with orthogonal VCPs.
• Retrospective review of case notes and radiographs for short-term outcomes and arthrodesis progression.
• Owner questionnaires utilizing the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) for long-term outcome assessment.

Main Results:

• Successful arthrodesis was achieved in all cases.
• Minor intraoperative complications (drill bit failure) occurred in two cases.
• One case of bilateral single-session PTA experienced postoperative complications (gastrocnemius myotendinopathy, screw protrusion), which were surgically resolved.
• High mean Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index scores indicated good functional recovery and low pain perception at long-term follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Orthogonal VCPs provide a viable alternative for pantarsal arthrodesis in cats with severe tarsal injuries.
• Avoiding single-session bilateral PTA may be prudent to minimize postoperative complications.
• Pantarsal arthrodesis using this technique yields favorable long-term functional outcomes and owner-perceived pain relief in cats.