A care report of a feline sacroiliac and coxofemoral luxation following a road traffic accident
Abstract
This article describes the nursing care provided to an elderly domestic short haired cat with a fractured pelvis following a road traffic accident. It is essential to consider the entire animal when presented with a fracture case owing to the high incidence of shock, pain and additional soft tissue injuries. Analgesia and shock therapy treatment commenced immediately and post surgery intense nursing care and physiotherapy began to allow the patient the best chance to make a full recovery.
Species: Feline
Breed: Domestic short hair
Age: 14 years old
Sex: Male (neutered)
Weight: 4.45 kg
The patient was presented to the surgery after being involved in a road traffic accident that had resulted in severe pelvic trauma. The patient has been missing for 24 hours.
On physical examination the patient was hypother-mic (34.6°C) with pale mucous membranes. His claws were scuffed and both hind legs were cold with weak femoral pulses. He was able to ambulate on his fore-limbs. Both hindlimbs were markedly swollen. Neurological examination revealed good pain sensation in both hind feet and his tail, as well as anal sphincter tone. Abdominal palpation revealed a small, firm bladder.
The patient was admitted to the surgery for initial stabilization, radiographs and treatment for shock. He was placed in an incubator and intravenous access was immediately obtained via the cephalic vein (Box 1).
Clip an area over the vein
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