Clinical history A young male house cat (17 months of age) presented to the emergency service with acute pain - he was assumed to have been in an automobile accident. He had minimal signs of dyspnea and was non-weight bearing on the right pelvic limb. Whole body radiographs and study of the pelvis were made. Day 1 Radiographic diagnosis 2 studies were made of the pelvis Both showed a physeal fracture of the femoral head on the right Day 3 - Post operative study The single radiograph shows the patient following femoral head ostectomy Day 14 The cat was returned to the clinic with acute pain in the left hip. He had not used the right limb normally because of the surgery. Modified radiographic diagnosis Additional slipped capital epiphysis on the left. A more careful examination of all radiographs is now necessary.
- The femoral neck on the right at day 1 showed a lack of bone opacity with cortical shadows not clearly identified in addition to the slipped epiphysis
- The femoral neck on the left at day 14 showed a similar appearance of the femoral neck on the left in addition to the slipped epiphysis
This is an example of physeal dysplasia resulting in bilateral fractures of the proximal femoral epiphysis that is often seen in the heavier male cat prior to physeal closure. Day 14 - post op Comment Fortunately, the owner was advised that a dysplasia of this type was possible and thus they were not overly surprised at the diagnosis of the second fracture. The gross appearance of the femoral neck at both surgeries indicated marked remodeling with osteopenia from disuse.
