A nursing report on postoperative management of a cat with multiple jaw fractures

This patient care report highlights the nursing interventions required to manage the jaw fracture patient and critically reflects on alternative care options.

Name: Marble

Species: Feline

Breed: Maine Coon cross breed

Sex: Male (neutered)

Age: 5 years

Weight: 6.2 kg

The patient presented to an out of hours emergency centre following a road traffic accident witnessed by the owner. His cardiovascular system was stabilised overnight using intravenous fluid therapy and analgesics and he was referred to the practice's orthopaedic referral centre the following morning for mandibular fracture repair.

On examination, the patient had an unremarkable heart rate of 132 beats per minute and a slightly shallow respiration rate of 40 breaths per minute which constituted tachypnoea. Chest and heart sounds were unremarkable on thoracic auscultation. Marble's mucous membranes were pale pink and moist and his capillary refill time was 1.5 seconds. His temperature was 38.8°c.

Visual examination revealed that Marble had a fractured jaw characterised by lower mandibular deformity (dropped from normal position), blood stained ptyalism (drooling) and evidence of previous epistaxis. There were no other abnormalities detected on orthopaedic and neurological examination.