Carpal joint injuries in cats – an epidemiological study

B. Nakladal; F. vom Hagen; M. Brunnberg; M. Gross; H. Nietz; L. Brunnberg

doi:10.3415/VCOT-12-04-0056

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2013; 26(05): 333-339
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-12-04-0056

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

Carpal joint injuries in cats – an epidemiological study

Authors

B. Nakladal^*

¹Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
F. vom Hagen^*

¹Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
M. Brunnberg

¹Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
M. Gross

²Statistical Consulting Entity, Faculty of Economics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
H. Nietz

³Müritz-Animal Clinic, Waren/Müritz, Germany
L. Brunnberg

¹Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

Summary

Objective: Injuries of the carpal joint are rare in cats. The most common cause is a fall from a height, known as ‘high-rise syndrome’. So far, only limited data about carpal joint injuries (CJI) in cats are available. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, aetiology, location, and type of CJI in cats.

Methods: Case records of cats diagnosed with CJI between 1998 and 2010 were retrospectively analysed. Data concerning signalment, history and type of CJI, accompanying systemic injuries and further orthopaedic injuries were collected.

Results: During the study period, 73 cats were diagnosed with CJI (87 injured carpal joints) and the prevalence in our hospital population was 0.26% (73 out of 28,482). Cats with CJI were more likely to be presented in the period from April-October (85%, p = 0.003) compared with the rest of the year. Carpal joint injuries were caused by a fall from a height in 72.6% of the cases. Of all carpal joints, the ante-brachiocarpal joint was predominantly injured (50.6%, p = 0.001) and this was commonly caused by a fall from the fourth floor or higher (p = 0.002). The carpometacarpal joint was predominantly affected by a fall from heights up to the third floor (p = 0.004).

Clinical significance: The data of this study confirm previous data with respect to time of occurrence and cause of injury. Of note, the height of the fall appears to influence the location of the injury within the carpus of cats.

Keywords

Hyperextension - high-rise syndrome - fall - height - luxation

Full Text

References

References
1 Vollmerhaus B, Roos H. Konstruktionsprinzipien an der Vorder- und Hinterpfote der Hauskatze (Felis catus). 1. Mitteilung: Skelett [Construction principles in the forepay and hindpay of the domestic cat (Felis Catus). 1: Skeleton]. Anat Histol Embryol 2000; 29: 111-118.
2 Vollmerhaus B, Roos H. Konstruktionsprinzipien an der Vorder- und Hinterpfote der Hauskatze (Felis catus). 2. Mitteilung: Gelenke [Pricinples of construction in the fore- and hindpaw of the domestic cat (Felis catus). 2. Articulations]. Anat Histol Embryol 2000; 29: 157-165.
3 Scott HW, McLaughlin R. Carpal, metacarpal, and phalangeal injuries. In: Scott HW, McLaughlin R, Northcott J. editors. Feline Orthopedics. London: Manson Publishing/The Veterinary Press; 2007. p. 2007-145.
4 Simpson D, Goldsmith S. Pancarpal arthrodesis in a cat: a case report and anatomical study. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1994; 7: 45-50.
5 Kapatkin AS, Garcia-Nolen T, Hayashi K. Carpus, Metacarpus, and Digits. In: Tobias KM, Johnston SA. editors. Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal. St. Louis: Saunders; 2012. pg. 2012-785.
6 Voss K, Geyer H, Montavon PM. Antebrachial luxation in a cat. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2003; 16: 266-270.
7 Nickel R, Schummer A, Seiferle E. Vorderfußwurzelgelenk, Articulatio carpi [Carpal Joint, Articulatio carpi]. In: Nickel R, Schummer A, Seiferle E. editors. Lehrbuch der Anatomie der Haussäugetiere- Band 1 Bewegungsapparat [Textbook of Domestic Mammals Anatomy, Volume 1, Musculoskeletal system]. Berlin: Parey; 1992. pg. 1992-234.
8 Shales CJ, Langley-Hobbs S. Dorso-medial ante-brachiocarpal luxation with radio-ulna luxation in a domestic shorthair. J Feline Med Surg 2006; 8: 197-202.
9 Pitcher GDC. Luxation of the radial carpal bone in a cat. J Small Anim Pract 1996; 37: 292-295.
10 Whitney WO, Mehlhaff CJ. High-rise syndrome in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1987; 191: 1399-1403.
11 Vnuk D, Pirkic B, Maticic D. et al. Feline high rise syndrome: 119 cases (1998-2001). J Feline Med Surg 2004; 6: 305-312.
12 Papazoglou LG, Galatos AD, Patsikas MN. et al. High-rise syndrome in cats: 207 cases (1988-1998). Australian Veterinary Practitioner 2001; 31: 98-102.
13 Calvo I, Farrell M, Chase D. et al. Carpal arthrodesis in cats. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2009; 22: 498-504.
14 Kapatkin AS, Matthiesen DT. Feline high-rise syndrome. Compend Contin Educ Vet 1991; 13: 1389-1394.
15 Voss K, Langley-Hobbs SJ, Montavon PM. Carpal joint. In: Feline Orthopedics and Muskuloskeletal Disease. Edinburgh: Mosby; 2009. pg. 2009-385.
16 de Laforcade AM, Silverstein DC. Shock. In: Silverstein DC, Hopper K. editors. Small Animal Critical Care Medicine. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. pg. 2009-41.
17 Diamond JM. Why cats have nine lives. Nature 1988; 332: 586-587.
18 Barth R. Die polytraumatisierte Katze [The polytraumatised cat]. Kleintierpraxis 1990; 35: 321-330.
19 Li A, Bennett D, Gibbs C. et al. Radial carpal bone fractures in 15 dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2000; 41: 74-79.
20 Tomlin JL, Pead MJ, Langley-Hobbs SJ. et al. Radial carpal bone fracture in dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2001; 37: 173-178.
21 Miller ME. Arthrology. In: Evans HE, Christensen GC. editors. Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1979. pg. 1979-219.