Soft-tissue injuries associated with cast application for distal limb orthopaedic conditions

Summary

Objectives: Casts applied for orthopaedic conditions can result in soft-tissue injuries. The purpose of our study was to describe the nature and prevalence of such complications.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of medical records of dogs and cats that had a cast placed for an orthopaedic condition between October 2003 and May 2009. The data were analysed and categorised.

Results: Of the 60 animals that had a cast placed, 63% developed a soft-tissue injury (60% mild, 20% moderate and 20% severe). Injuries could occur any time during coaptation, and an association with duration of casting and severity (p = 0.42) was not shown. Severe injuries took the longest to resolve (p = 0.003). Sighthounds were significantly more likely to develop a soft-tissue injury (p = 0.04), and cross-breeds were less likely (p = 0.01). All common calcaneal tendon reconstructions suffered soft-tissue injuries, but significance was not shown (p = 0.08). Veterinarians identified the majority of injuries (80%) rather than the owners. The financial cost of treating soft-tissue injuries ranged from four to 121% the cost of the original orthopaedic procedure.

Clinical significance: Soft-tissue injuries secondary to casting occur frequently, and can occur at any time during the casting period. Within our study, sighthounds were more likely to develop soft tissue injuries, and should therefore perhaps be considered as a susceptible group. The only reliable way to identify an injury is to remove the cast and inspect the limb.

Keywords

Cast - orthopaedic - soft-tissue - injury - complication

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