Doxy Thought She Could Fly

Doxy, a 7 year old female neutered domestic shorthair was referred to the orthopaedic department of the MCD after a fall from considerable height. She was presented in lat- eral recumbency, unable to stand and walk and she reacted painful to palpation of the pelvic region. Based on the physical exam and radiographs of the pelvis, a fracture of the ilial body was diagnosed.

Lateral plate fixation is the most frequently used surgical technique to stabilise feline ilial fractures, however it is associated with high percentages of implant failure. in our study we investigated whether the application of a second lateral plate dorsally or ven- trally of the first lateral plate creates a more rigid construction, leading to a lower per- centage of implant failure. retrospective research of surgical records and radiographs of 80 cats treated at the orthopaedic department of the MCD (35 cats with a single lateral plate, 48 with double lateral plates) showed that implant failure occurred significantly less in cats treated with double lateral plates. these results indicate that with little extra costs and surgery time, the complication rates of lateral plate fixation of feline ilial frac- tures can be lowered.

Doxy’s ilial fracture was surgically stabilised using two laterally applied bone plates. She recovered without complications of the fixation. She thought she could fly but now knows she really can’t.