Cat European short hair 1 year of age male castrated pPresented at the emergency duty with suspicious of HBC at the clinical examination the right tarsus was painful and swollen, radiographs were taken. Radiographic examinationPlantarodorsal and mediolateral view of the right tarsus. Radiographic findings
- There is a moderate soft tissue swelling centred on the right tarsus mainly dorsal and plantar, with heterogenous radioopacity and multiple irregular lucencies projected over the soft tissues dorsal to the distal tibial and at the level of the tarsal joint (arrows).
- There is an ill defined lucent area at the level of the medial malleolus of the tibia with an irregular lateral border (emtpy arrows).
- The diagnosis was open articular fracture of the medial malleolus of the right tibia with accompanying soft tissue swelling.
- Stressed radiographs were taken.
Radiographic diagnosisClose up of the ML and PD view of the right tarsus (left)Plantarodorsal view of the right tarsus stressed medially (left) and laterally (right). There is a better visualisation and obvious separation of the medial tibial malleolus with radiolucent line reaching the medial part of the tibio tarsal joint and a focal joint widening in this region. The cat underwent to surgery. Post Op radiographs are shownPlantarodorsal and mediolateral view of the right tarsus, post OP. Comments
- Tarsal ligamentous injuries, osteochondral fragments and fractures that may not be identified on routine radiographic views can be identified or better assessed using additional traction force stressed views.
- These views may demonstrate widening of the medial or lateral region of the tarsus if ligamentous or bony instability is present.
- To obtain plantarodorsal medially and laterally stressed views, the patient is positioned as for the PD view. The limb will need to stabilized (tape or sandbags) to permit stress to be applied to the medial or lateral surface of the joint in question and to move the pes laterally or medially. This will disclose any collateral joint laxity.
- The application of stress requires the use of tape, sandbags, ropes or application of pressure with a wooden spoon to maintain the joint in the desired position.
- The cat was reexamined 6 weeks post surgery and was clinically doing fine.
