Blog

The most common cause of bone fractures in cats is being hit by a car or falling from a significant height. We also regularly see broken bones sustained as result of a dog bite injury.

Possible signs of a fractured leg

The symptoms will depend on the location of the fracture.

• Crying, howling, moaning, growling, especially when touched or moved
• Misshapen or visible out-of-place limb
• Reduced ability to walk or reluctance to bear weight on a limb
• Unable to move a limb or it hangs limply
• Unable to stand up and support body weight
• Swelling, bleeding and/or bruising
• Hiding in unusual places away from the family

Signs of shock may also be evident

• Pale, white gums
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid breathing
• Rapid but weak pulse 
• Dilated pupils

Diagnosis

If your vet suspects your cat has a bone fracture, a number of diagnostic procedures will need to be performed to determine the extent of the injury and to formulate a treatment plan. This will likely include:

• Complete medical history and physical examination
• Radiographs (X-rays) of the affected limb or area
• Chest and abdominal radiographs to rule out obvious internal organ injury especially for trauma patients
• Blood tests to evaluate for systemic organ trauma and diseases or consequences of shock

Treatment

Cats that are in shock or have other internal injuries may need to have the investigation of their fracture delayed until the shock and pain can be managed.  Your veterinarian may temporarily stabilise the fracture by applying a splint or padded bandage.

The type of fracture repair undertaken will depend on a number of factors:

• fracture type and duration
• fracture location
• presence of multiple bone fractures
• intended activity levels of the cat
• cat’s age
• owner’s financial resources and commitment
• Veterinary Surgeon’s preference

Fractures can be reduced and stabilised by performing either a closed reduction or an open reduction. A closed reduction involves applying a cast or splint to stabilise the fracture site.

An open reduction involves performing orthopaedic surgery and there are a number of different surgical techniques that our surgeons can perform. In most cases, opting for a surgical approach to repair your cat’s fracture instead of a closed reduction will provide your cat with the best chance for a full return to function.

Orthopaedic fracture repairs usually involve the use of metallic surgical implants pin and wires, plates and screws, interlocking nails, external skeletal fixators (ESF) or Kirschner apparatuses. ESF utilizes fixation pins that are placed through the skin and into the bone fragments. A series of clamps and bars or rings are used to stabilize the major fracture fragments.

Advanced veterinary orthopaedic surgery is technically equivalent to that enjoyed by human patients and uses similarly expensive materials (implants, bone plates, fixator devices). Unfortunately this means that often the most preferable treatment is also somewhat costly. If medical and surgical costs are an issue, it is important that you please discuss your cat’s treatment options thoroughly with one of our veterinarians first.

It is important to remember that if you choose a less desirable treatment option, this may give a lower success rate for a return to full normal limb function.  Less desirable options may result in repeated visits to the veterinarian for problems associated with the original fracture. These visits can potentially contribute significantly to the overall veterinary costs.

An example of this is seen with some patients that have a splint placed for fracture stabilisation. The splint needs to be reapplied every week for a minimum of six to eight weeks to allow bone healing. In many cats this procedure is painful and so they will require sedation and hospitalisation. Cats can also be susceptible to developing painful pressure sores associated with prolonged bandaging and these sores can be problematic to treat.

How Does a Broken Bone Heal?

All broken bones go through the same healing process. This is true whether a bone has been cut as part of a surgical procedure or fractured due to an injury. The bone healing process has three overlapping stages: inflammation, bone production, and bone remodelling.

• Inflammation starts immediately after the bone is fractured and lasts for several days. When the bone is fractured there is bleeding into the area, leading to inflammation and clotting of blood at the fracture site. This provides the initial structural stability and framework for producing new bone.
• Bone production begins when the clotted blood formed by inflammation is replaced with fibrous tissue and cartilage known as “soft callus”. As the healing progresses, the soft callus is replaced with hard bone known as “hard callus”, which is visible on x-rays several weeks after the fracture.
• Bone remodelling is the final phase of bone healing and goes on for several months after the fracture occurs. In remodelling, the bone continues to form and becomes compact, returning to its original shape. In addition, blood circulation in the area improves. Once adequate bone healing has occurred, weight-bearing on the affected leg such as walking encourages bone remodelling.

How long does it take for a Broken Bone to Heal?

Broken bones generally take about six to eight weeks for sufficient healing to occur however this can vary. In general, kitten’s bones will heal much faster than those of adult cats. Your input at this stage is a vital contribution to the overall success of your cat’s treatment.

Bone healing is a complex process. There can be considerable differences in the speed and success of healing amongst individuals. The time required for bone healing can be affected by many factors, including the type and location of the fracture, the cat’s age, their diet and presence of any underlying medical conditions such as chronic renal disease or diabetes.

What can I do to help my cat’s fracture heal more quickly?

1. AVOID EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE FRACTURE SITE

No two fractures are the same, some can heal without treatment, while others can resist ALL attempts to fix them. By far the majority of fractures will need stabilising and will heal well with it. However because no two fractures are the same, a method that works well for one fracture doesn’t necessarily work well for another.

Please remember, although the support we apply to the fracture is strong, it can never be as strong as the original bone. Often the bone is weakened after the fracture and can contain extensive “micro-fractures” which don’t show up on the x-ray or at surgery.

The best way to avoid excessive movement of the fracture is to strictly confine your cat. Adventurous and active cats MUST be kept confined in a small crate or cage, or if necessary, sedated.

2. MAINTAIN GOOD BONE ALIGNMENT

Bone alignment means how well the fracture ends come together and how accurately the bone is held in its original position for healing. If alignment is not good it usually leaves spaces that must be filled with bone before healing. This will obviously take longer to heal, and your cat will be dependent on the stabilising device for longer.

3. AVOID INFECTION

Infection is a major problem in bone healing and MUST be carefully handled if present. It is most commonly encountered when the bone has penetrated the skin at the time of the accident. These fractures are called COMPOUND fractures.

4. DIET

Your cat needs to be fed a high quality premium cat food and you should avoid feeding calcium deficient meat only diets. Calcium deficiency most commonly occurs with young, growing cats where the demand for calcium is the highest. Fractures associated with this condition are quite delicate because ALL the bone is weak and the anchor for any stabilising device depends on this bone holding the weight. Feel free to ask speak to one of our vets or vet nurses for some nutritional advice.

5. BLOOD SUPPLY

Poor blood supply to the fracture is associated with old age as well as particular areas of the body such as the tibia in its lower third. Young cats have particularly good blood supply in their bones due to growth and these bones can sometimes heal in as little as 10 days! Obviously, the day you take your cat home, the fracture has not healed yet and in most cases the cat will need around two months of rehabilitation and managing.

Home care after fracture fixation:

• Please keep your cat strictly rested for a minimum of two to four weeks. After this period, you can commence allowing your cat cautious access to one or two rooms of the house for a further two to four weeks. Note that exercise restriction is crucial until the healing is complete.
• Carefully follow all the instructions your veterinarian has provided and pay particular attention to the wound and the bandages or splints that were applied. Watch for any redness, swelling or abnormal discharge from the incision.
• All bandages, splints or casts must be kept clean and dry. It is better to have no bandage than a loose or wet one. For more information refer to our Bandage Care or Cast Care pages.
• Ensure to return for all your cat’s revisits as specified by your vet at regular intervals. This is to ensure that problems are picked up early, generally every one to two weeks is advisable.
• Repeat X-rays are recommended to be taken approximately six to eight weeks after the initial injury to determine whether the fracture is healing properly.
• Contact us immediately if:
  • If your cat’s condition worsens at any point
  • If they stop eating or have a dramatic drop in their appetite
  • If a steadily improving fracture suddenly becomes painful
  • If you notice an unpleasant smell coming from the bandage or there is swelling

Should internal fixation devices be removed?

This will depend on what type of implants were used for surgery. Wires are mostly left in, however pins are usually removed at about eight weeks after surgery. Plates and screws are best removed after 4-6 months; however they are often left in. Kirschner apparatuses are generally removed in 6-8 weeks.

It is recommended that x-rays are performed prior to removal of implants to ensure that bone healing has been sufficient. An anaesthetic is required to perform both these procedures.

Finally, we must touch the subject of weight control. For those cats carrying excess weight, it is so important to try and reduce their weight to minimise the load on the fixation device. Excess body weight can increase the risk of implant failure and non-healing. See our obesity information page for more.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this page does not replace the advice of your veterinarian. If you are concerned about your cat’s health in any way, we strongly recommend you seek veterinary advice.