Fractured Patella

Kenzerdee

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Hey everyone! My 11 month old female kitten broke her knee cap, surgery is $5000 and amputation is $1500. Since she’s so young I’d hate to take her whole leg off but does anyone have experience with this? Would she get arthritis or could it need to be redone? Or if you have a cat with an amputated leg are they still happy? I don’t want to do anything to make my baby sad 😢
 

Xena44

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Hey everyone! My 11 month old female kitten broke her knee cap, surgery is $5000 and amputation is $1500. Since she’s so young I’d hate to take her whole leg off but does anyone have experience with this? Would she get arthritis or could it need to be redone? Or if you have a cat with an amputated leg are they still happy? I don’t want to do anything to make my baby sad 😢
How bad is the break? Is is just a crack? can you give more detail? Hard to say further without more info. Amputation is a big deal (but a bigger deal for us honestly) but I had a kitty w 3 legs and she was fine. I’ve known other tripods and life has been good for them.
 

fionasmom

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I have a three legged GSD who lost his front leg to melanoma. Now, I am not trying to talk you into jumping into amputation, but I do consider it to be a good, unfortunately, solution to some situations for both humans and animals.

tripawds.com is a support group and website for cat and dog amputees. Animals do adjust to having three legs and your cat is so young that she will probably continue on as if her life is completely normal.

If you do the surgery, get all the details about prognosis and pros and cons. Is the surgery more or less a guarantee that you walk away from this, literally, with a completely healed cat or can there be reasons that adjunct procedures might need to be performed. Not trying to be obscure, but I have had friends with knee surgery or replacement who had to go back for a "touch up."

Get as much info as you can Surgical Pins and Plates in Cats and check some reliable websites so that you can go in with a lot of questions about both the surgery and amputation.

Amputation - Conditions Treated, Procedure, Efficacy, Recovery, Cost, Considerations, Prevention

You mention the whole leg being removed. That is standard procedure for all dog or cat amputations. Unlike people, not to take the whole leg would leave them with a partially hanging appendage which would be both useless, bothersome, and dangerous.
 
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Kenzerdee

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How bad is the break? Is is just a crack? can you give more detail? Hard to say further without more info. Amputation is a big deal (but a bigger deal for us honestly) but I had a kitty w 3 legs and she was fine. I’ve known other tripods and life has been good for them.
Her kneecap is being pulled completely apart by a couple mm sadly, the vets have never seen this before where I live so it’s hard to make a decision on what will be best for her long run. I don’t want it to start causing her pain after surgery because of arthritis and having to end up going back to get it amputated a few years later
 
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Kenzerdee

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Hey everyone! My 11 month old female kitten broke her knee cap, surgery is $5000 and amputation is $1500. Since she’s so young I’d hate to take her whole leg off but does anyone have experience with this? Would she get arthritis or could it need to be redone? Or if you have a cat with an amputated leg are they still happy? I don’t want to do anything to make my baby sad 😢
Her knee is also completely fractured and being pulled apart in 2 different directions so it’s not just a small fracture that could heal on its own
 

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Her kneecap is being pulled completely apart by a couple mm sadly, the vets have never seen this before where I live so it’s hard to make a decision on what will be best for her long run. I don’t want it to start causing her pain after surgery because of arthritis and having to end up going back to get it amputated a few years later
Have you considered a second opinion? Have you spoken to an orthopedist? Have you done any price shopping? I’m sorry for the questions but it seems to me like amputation is a really big step for a fracture. I understand your fear of arthritis totally. I don’t want to sound like a dunderhead but there’s no way to cast this?
 
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Kenzerdee

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Here’s my little kitty (Doja) with the broken leg, she’s the best g
Have you considered a second opinion? Have you spoken to an orthopedist? Have you done any price shopping? I’m sorry for the questions but it seems to me like amputation is a really big step for a fracture. I understand your fear of arthritis totally. I don’t want to sound like a dunderhead but there’s no way to cast this?
I’ve talked to 2 specialists and because it’s her kneecap they have to wire it back together so unfortunately they can’t just cast it☹ Unless we pay $200 just for a phone call consultation they won’t tell us her odds of it healing properly or any complications. It’s just so expensive to talk to anyone about how to fix her and get any answers
 

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Here’s my little kitty (Doja) with the broken leg, she’s the best g

I’ve talked to 2 specialists and because it’s her kneecap they have to wire it back together so unfortunately they can’t just cast it☹ Unless we pay $200 just for a phone call consultation they won’t tell us her odds of it healing properly or any complications. It’s just so expensive to talk to anyone about how to fix her and get any answers
Jeez. That’s awful. What a bunch of bums they won’t even talk to you without a whopping consult fee. Have you done any Internet searches to find any anecdotal stories? It’s always worth a try. One really has to be their critter’s best advocate. I know you’re really trying, I’m just saying don’t give up. Hang in there sister. I’m thinking too.

Keep in mind, orthopedist surgeons are just that. Surgeons—they cut. They cut to heal bc that’s what they’re trained to do. Has anyone given you the option of just crating her for 6 weeks or so to just let it heal? Or is it possible pay the 200 (gulp!) bucks for the consult? Sometimes if you do that, and decide to go ahead the surgery, they will credit that money to the bill. (Or not too). That way you will have all your options laid out for you. more info will help aid in your decision. I don’t think you should rush to amputate. That’s just me. The body wants to heal. It’s the way it is. There are homeopathic remedies that aid in the knitting of broken bones too. I can get you info on them if you’re interested.
 
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Kenzerdee

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I’ve talked to 2 specialists and because it’s her kneecap they have to wire it back together so unfortunately they can’t just cast it☹ Unless we pay $200 just for a phone call consultation they won’t tell us her odds of it healing properly or any complications. It’s just so expensive to talk to anyone about how to fix her and get any answers
Jeez. That’s awful. What a bunch of bums they won’t even talk to you without a whopping consult fee. Have you done any Internet searches to find any anecdotal stories? It’s always worth a try. One really has to be their critter’s best advocate. I know you’re really trying I’m just saying don’t give up. Hang in there sister. I’m thinking too.
Ive been trying to read some case studies on it and surgery outcomes don’t look too good 😕 it’s such a rare type of break that there’s hardly any information on it, something I read said only .1% of cats that come in with broken bones have this type of fracture. She’s getting more X-rays done tomorrow though and we’re going to a different vet that can hopefully refer us somewhere better than the last vet did!
 

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Ive been trying to read some case studies on it and surgery outcomes don’t look too good 😕 it’s such a rare type of break that there’s hardly any information on it, something I read said only .1% of cats that come in with broken bones have this type of fracture. She’s getting more X-rays done tomorrow though and we’re going to a different vet that can hopefully refer us somewhere better than the last vet did!
Good. That’s really good. I edited my post and added to it. Did you see it?
 
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Kenzerdee

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Good. That’s really good. I edited my post and added to it. Did you see it?
Oops I missed it, I just read it! Nobody has given us the option per se, but she broke her leg about a month ago so we decided to see how it would do on its own and she stopped limping and was acting fine for a couple weeks. But over the last weekend she must’ve done something because she started to limp again and it seems worse. It’s a good idea to just do the consult to get the answers we’re looking for, I’ll probably try that after we see her new X-rays
 

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Oops I missed it, I just read it! Nobody has given us the option per se, but she broke her leg about a month ago so we decided to see how it would do on its own and she stopped limping and was acting fine for a couple weeks. But over the last weekend she must’ve done something because she started to limp again and it seems worse. It’s a good idea to just do the consult to get the answers we’re looking for, I’ll probably try that after we see her new X-rays
She broke her leg? Is she really accident prone? Or is she just like a little rambunctious speed demon? Are her bones the proper density? The vet never mentioned anything different right? Just a curious thing you know? Always keep in mind that once in an amputation is done, it’s permanent (just stating the obvious 😉). You always have the option to amputate later on if need be. 😻
 
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Kenzerdee

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She broke her leg? Is she really accident prone? Or is she just like a little rambunctious speed demon? Are her bones the proper density? The vet never mentioned anything different right? Just a curious thing you know? Always keep in mind that once in an amputation is done, it’s permanent (just stating the obvious 😉). You always have the option to amputate later on if need be. 😻
We found her malnourished and the runt of a barn cat so she’s had a few problems. She used to walk in circles and runs into things a lot so the vets thinks her brain might not be completely developed. She also still has her baby teeth that are being extracted tomorrow, and in a case study I read they found a link between her retained deciduous (baby) teeth and fractured patellas. I’m not sure how they’re linked but I’m assuming her bones are weaker than normal because of her being malnourished as a kitty. So she is both accident prone and her bone density might be different than normal. She’s a special kitty but she’s the sweetest thing in the world❤ I think she might have fallen off of something while we were sleeping because she was fine when we went to sleep and when she woke up she was limping
 

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Kenzerdee

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So I took her to the vet today and he told me that both of her back legs are either broken or not fully formed. So now I really don’t know where to go from here😕 I guess that takes amputation off of the table, he suggested crating her and he’s getting ahold of another orthopedic surgeon
 

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She is a beautiful little girl and very lucky to have found you.

I am sorry that you have just received this new information from the vet. Yes, it does take amputation off the table, so in an odd way, that is one less option to worry about.

So the malformation, or the break, whichever it is, amount to the same thing that you described earlier?

This last news, is it from the specialist who wanted the fee, or your other vet?
 
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Kenzerdee

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She is a beautiful little girl and very lucky to have found you.

I am sorry that you have just received this new information from the vet. Yes, it does take amputation off the table, so in an odd way, that is one less option to worry about.

So the malformation, or the break, whichever it is, amount to the same thing that you described earlier?

This last news, is it from the specialist who wanted the fee, or your other vet?
The latest news is from her regular vet that we go to, but I think the cost of surgery does amount to the same price but doubled if we need to get it repaired since we would have to do both legs. Luckily we are getting her sent home with pain meds to manage her pain while we wait for the next step
 

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She is so beautiful!! She’s so very lucky to have found you! I’ve had a few special kitties myself. The one that both mental and physical challenges was Gregory Peck aka Pecky. He was an adorable little doofus. Has your vet ever talked about anyway to increase her bone density? Wow this is a toughie. She was walking tho right? I’m wondering how she could with 2 broken legs. Geez. Keep us posted and be brave lady. Love up your little sweetie. The fact that she is so young I think bodes well for her. It always amazes me how they learn to adapt to life no matter the hand they’re dealt. What are her mental challenges?
 

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We found her malnourished and the runt of a barn cat so she’s had a few problems. She used to walk in circles and runs into things a lot so the vets thinks her brain might not be completely developed. She also still has her baby teeth that are being extracted tomorrow, and in a case study I read they found a link between her retained deciduous (baby) teeth and fractured patellas. I’m not sure how they’re linked but I’m assuming her bones are weaker than normal because of her being malnourished as a kitty. So she is both accident prone and her bone density might be different than normal. She’s a special kitty but she’s the sweetest thing in the world❤ I think she might have fallen off of something while we were sleeping because she was fine when we went to sleep and when she woke up she was limping
😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻
 
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Kenzerdee

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She is so beautiful!! She’s so very lucky to have found you! I’ve had a few special kitties myself. The one that both mental and physical challenges was Gregory Peck aka Pecky. He was an adorable little doofus. Has your vet ever talked about anyway to increase her bone density? Wow this is a toughie. She was walking tho right? I’m wondering how she could with 2 broken legs. Geez. Keep us posted and be brave lady. Love up your little sweetie. The fact that she is so young I think bodes well for her. It always amazes me how they learn to adapt to life no matter the hand they’re dealt. What are her mental challenges?
She is so beautiful!! She’s so very lucky to have found you! I’ve had a few special kitties myself. The one that both mental and physical challenges was Gregory Peck aka Pecky. He was an adorable little doofus. Has your vet ever talked about anyway to increase her bone density? Wow this is a toughie. She was walking tho right? I’m wondering how she could with 2 broken legs. Geez. Keep us posted and be brave lady. Love up your little sweetie. The fact that she is so young I think bodes well for her. It always amazes me how they learn to adapt to life no matter the hand they’re dealt. What are her mental challenges?
Yeah she was walking fine for awhile somehow! But now she can only take a couple steps at a time and has to rest😢 I have her caged up right now so she will stay still. I want to talk to the vet about any vitamins that they could suggest to help her get stronger bones. When she was a kitten she would walk in circles, run into things, and she couldn’t really track with her eyes so the vets thought she was blind for awhile. But since she’s aged they took back the blindness and just think she has an undeveloped cerebellum which is why she is kind of clumsy and strange. As she gets older she seems to get better so I think maybe she’s just behind on her growth from her momma not feeding her
 

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Yeah she was walking fine for awhile somehow! But now she can only take a couple steps at a time and has to rest😢 I have her caged up right now so she will stay still. I want to talk to the vet about any vitamins that they could suggest to help her get stronger bones. When she was a kitten she would walk in circles, run into things, and she couldn’t really track with her eyes so the vets thought she was blind for awhile. But since she’s aged they took back the blindness and just think she has an undeveloped cerebellum which is why she is kind of clumsy and strange. As she gets older she seems to get better so I think maybe she’s just behind on her growth from her momma not feeding her
I wonder if her mother had panleukopenia.
 
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