Summary
Two kittens aged between four and five months were presented having sustained patellar
fractures. In both cases, healing was subsequently documented radiographically; this
has not been reported previously in the literature.
One kitten had bilateral patellar fractures – the symptomatic right stifle was treated
with a pin and tension-band-wire which later failed, at which point partial patellectomy
was performed. The fracture of the left patella was minimally displaced and was treated
conservatively. A radiograph of the left patella taken eleven months after initial
presentation showed complete healing of the fracture. The second case was treated
surgically with a circumferential wire; healing of the fracture was demonstrated radiographically
at twelve weeks postoperatively. Radiographic images taken five weeks postoperatively
had shown some narrowing of the fracture gap.
These two cases demonstrate that bony union of patellar fractures can be documented,
given a long enough duration of radiographic follow-up; circumferential wire was an
effective treatment in a displaced fracture, and conservative treatment resulted in
complete healing of a minimally displaced fracture.
Keywords
Kitten - patella fracture - bony union - healing process
