Danger, the two-year-old Tonkinese was hanging out in his front garden a few weeks ago when he took a shine to the neighbour’s cat and went next door for a visit.  Expecting him back shortly (as he wasn’t one to wander far), his owners became increasingly concerned when he didn’t return home that night.  His anxious family searched for him non-stop for three whole days, beginning to fear that they may never see him again.  However, with some luck, after passing this spot multiple times, they decided to have one last good look under a house nearby and there was little Danger, tired and petrified, but so grateful to see his people. When he arrived home, it was clear that he was not in good shape.  His worried mum rushed him straight down to us at the Berwick Hospital, as not only was she concerned he would have been starving all that time and was probably very dehydrated, he also was not bearing any weight at all on his left hind leg.

An initial examination was performed and Danger appeared otherwise stable, and after some strong pain relief and a quick anaesthetic, Dr. Candace and the team performed radiographs to see just what had happened to his poor back leg.   After reviewing the x-rays, it looked like Danger most likely had a very close call with a car, with his tibia having some very nasty fractures through it.

Tibial fractures in cats are not uncommon and can result from various causes, including trauma, falls, or accidents. The tibia is one of the long bones in the hind limb, and fractures in this bone can vary in severity from simple cracks to complete breaks.

Symptoms of tibial fractures in cats may include:

• Limping or inability to bear weight on the affected leg.
• Swelling or deformity around the knee or lower leg.
• Pain, which may be evident through vocalization or reluctance to move.

In severe cases, the fractured bone may pierce through the skin, leading to an open or compound fracture.

After Danger was made comfortable with a large stabilising bandage, a pain patch and strict instructions to remain in a crate, he returned home for the weekend with his family who had to make a very tricky decision for him.

There are several options for treatment of tibial fractures in cats and these may include:

• Splinting or casting: For less severe fractures, a splint or cast may be applied to immobilize the leg and allow the bone to heal properly. This unfortunately was not an option for Danger.
• External fixation: In some cases, metal pins or wires may be placed outside the leg to stabilize the fracture while it heals.
• Internal fixation: This involves surgical placement of pins, plates, or screws to stabilize the fractured bone segments. Internal fixation is often preferred for more severe fractures or fractures that involve joints.
• Amputation: In cases where the fracture is severe and cannot be effectively repaired, amputation of the affected limb may be necessary to relieve pain and improve the cat’s quality of life.

After much deliberation, Danger’s family decided to proceed with amputation, which he returned for first thing Monday morning, with Dr. Tracy performing the surgery.  This decision wasn’t an easy one as they needed to take in to account many factors including; the severity of the fracture, the cost involved in specialist repair, the risk of complications, and ongoing pain and impaired mobility for the rest of his life.  With time and proper care, most cats adapt remarkably well to life with three legs. They can continue to lead happy, fulfilling lives, enjoying many of the same activities they did before the amputation.

And this is exactly what Danger is currently doing!  It has only been a couple weeks, but during his revisits with us since his surgery, it’s so heartening to see him get around as well as ever with just three legs.  His family is so thrilled and we are so proud of Danger!  No more living up to your name though please, you are one lucky guy!