Page 1503 - Cote clinical veterinary advisor dogs and cats 4th

Patellar Fracture and Dental Anomaly Syndrome in Cats 762.e3

Nutrition/Diet treatment), even though nonunion generally Technician Tips
Pain control promotes voluntary food intake, persists. Slightly more than one-half of cats Technicians should be skilled in assessing
VetBooks.ir Behavior/Exercise • Despite decreased function of the quadriceps dental abnormalities. Persistent deciduous teeth Diseases and Disorders
continue to experience mild lameness or
normal feline dental anatomy and recognizing
but soft foods may be helpful.
stiffness.
in cats are rare and warrant investigation.
Restricting behavior has not been shown to
prevent subsequent fractures. (and plantigrade stance) in some affected Client Education
cats, the prognosis for quality of life is good
as long as dental disease is addressed and Clients need to be informed about the impor-
Drug Interactions proliferative osteomyelitis is not a sequela. tance of early and aggressive dental care.
Bisphosphonate treatment might compound
the pathophysiology. PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS SUGGESTED READING
Reyes NA, et al: Incidence and types of preceding
Possible Complications Comments and subsequent fractures in cats with patellar
• Surgical repair of nontraumatic patellar • Cats of any age should have a detailed dental fracture and dental anomaly syndrome. J Feline
fractures results in nonunion in > 85% of cases. evaluation at every visit. Particularly after the Med Surg 1-10, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1177%
• Multifocal proliferative osteomyelitis of the exfoliation of deciduous teeth, recognizing 2F1098612X18800837.
jaw persistent deciduous teeth in place of or in
addition to normal adult teeth can identify ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED
Recommended Monitoring this syndrome, enabling early intervention READINGS
• Monitor for lameness due to subsequent for dental disease and pre-emptive client Council N, et al: Bilateral patellar fractures and
fractures (as long as 11 years after patellar education regarding bony disease, including increased cortical bone thickness associated with
fracture). possible fracture in the future. long-term oral alendronate treatment in a cat. J
• Semiannual dental exam • If the disorder is suspected based on dental Feline Med Surg Open Rep 3:2055116917727137,
issues, radiographic imaging of the patella 2017.
PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME is indicated, even absent lameness. Langley-Hobbs S: Patella fractures in cats with per-
sistent deciduous teeth—knees and teeth syndrome
• For fracture patients, obtain radiograph (KaTS). Companion Anim 21(11):620-625, 2016.
• Many cats return to normal function after the contralateral limb because contralateral Little S: The cat: clinical medicine and management,
patellar fracture (with conservative or surgical fracture or sclerosis is common. St. Louis, 2012, Saunders, pp 706-707.

RELATED CLIENT EDUCATION
SHEETS

Consent to Perform Dental Cleaning
Consent to Perform Dental Extractions (Tooth
Removal)
Consent to Perform General Anesthesia
Consent to Perform Radiography
AUTHOR: Steven J. Bailey, DVM, DABVP
EDITOR: Kathleen Linn, DVM, MS, DACVS

PATELLAR FRACTURES IN CATS Intraoral dental radiograph shows the left mandibular cheek teeth.

PATELLAR FRACTURES IN CATS Composite-progression image of the left stifle.
www.ExpertConsult.com