Cat ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) tears are not uncommon in Adelaide but, unlike dogs, cats almost always also rupture most (if not ALL) of the other ligaments in that stifle (knee). This leaves their knee in a very unstable and painful state.
Most commonly we see rupture of the ACL, the PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament) and the lateral Colateral ligament. The best option we have found for repairing this injury is the Isometric Ligafiba repair, which is identical to that which we do in small dogs. The laterally placed Ligafiba is tensioned to give excellent stability to effectively cover the suppoort and function of the ACL and the Lateral Colateral ligaments. Interesting is that we do not need to do additional surgery with regard to the PCL.
Many cats rupture ALL of their stifle's ligaments and on occasions
the knee is completely dislocated. In addition to the above Ligafiba
Isometric surgery to stabilze the lateral (outside) stifle, two
additioanl screws need to be placed on the medial (middle) side of the
knee, one either side of the stifle joint and a Ligafiba tensioned
between them.
We regularly see cats that have a medial patella luxation (dislocated knee cap) and the surgery technique depends on the factors contributing to the dislocation which may be one OR MORE of torn lateral patella ligament, ruptured ACL, shallow patella groove.
In both cases, complete cage confinement is advised for 2 to 8 weeks, depending on how serious the initial injury was.
We expect an EXCELLENT result with these surgeries and full return to normal cat antics and play!!!