Amputation

This page will highlight some interesting surgeries.  WARNING!  pictures in this section can be quite graphic.  Viewer discretion is advised.

One of our clinic cats has been a little off when he walks around the clinic. Many mild lameness are simple sprains/strains that will clear in a few days. Hootie. our black cat at the clinic, is a month shy of being 14 years old. So a little ache and pain might be expected. BUT, when he continued to limp we did an orthopedic evaluation on Wednesday (6/3)and found him to be sore at his right elbow. Because he was sore and just a bit of swelling in his proximal forearm we took a digital radiograph. We could hardly believe what we saw. About 2 cm of his proximal radius was eaten away.

Diagnosis - Cancer

We took chest films to evaluate for metastisis (spread of the cancer). Good news there - no signs of spreading. Blood work showed everything else to be in order.

Treatment - Amputation of the limb with tissue to the pathologist to confirm the type of cancer so we can plan his chemotherapy.

Here's a look at the amputation proedure.  In this first set of pictures,  we prepare Hootie for surgery.

Here's a look at the rest of the procedure.  We will take the limb with tissue for the pathology report.

The pictures below show the closing.

Hootie, is recovering nicely from his amputation of his diseased (cancerous) leg. He is adapting to being 3 legged as we have now given him some freedom.  

We'll have a picture update on Hootie very soon.