Shoulder arthrodesis as a treatment for severe shoulder deformity secondary to septic arthritis in two cats

Two rescued juvenile cats with unilateral severe shoulder deformities (SDs) suspected to be secondary to septic arthritis were referred for further management. Comprehensive diagnostic evaluations confirmed SD with suspected septic arthritis in both cases. Because of the poor prognosis for preserving shoulder joint function, shoulder arthrodesis was performed to relieve pain and restore forelimb weightbearing ability. At 6 and 8 years postoperatively, both cats exhibited normal motor function in the affected limbs, no signs of lameness and maintained a good quality of life. No evidence of osteomyelitis or implant failure was noted. These findings suggest that arthrodesis may be a viable and effective long-term treatment option for irreparable shoulder joint disorders in cats.

Shoulder joint injuries and disorders are less common in cats than in dogs, and only a limited number of reports exist in the small animal orthopaedic literature. In clinical practice, SD in small animals is rarely documented, with few references regarding its aetiology and pathophysiology. This report presents two cases of SD in rescued cats, demonstrating that shoulder arthrodesis can be an effective treatment for irreparable feline shoulder joint disorders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of shoulder arthrodesis in cats with SD.