Surgical Correction of a Closed Complete Oblique Midshaft Tibial Fracture in a Cat Using Intramedullary Pinning: A Case Report

Abstract

This clinical report presents the case of a 12-month-old Indigenous male cat, weighing 4.5 kg, that sustained a femur fracture after falling from a fifth-floor building admitted to Purbachal Teaching and Training Pet Hospital. Upon examination, the cat was found to be lame and unable to bear weight on its right hind limb. Radiographic imaging revealed a complete transverse fracture in the midshaft of the right tibia. The fracture was treated using intramedullary pinning with a 2.5mm Steinmann pin under general anesthesia, guided by a C-arm X-ray. The cat was administered antibiotics (Cefixime 5–10 mg/kg) and anti-inflammatory medication(ketoprofen) postoperatively. Follow-up radiographs confirmed proper alignment and stabilization of the fracture. By day 18, the cat could partially bear weight on the injured limb, and by day 30, it was able to fully support its weight. This case highlights the effectiveness of intramedullary pinning in treating feline femur fractures, with favorable clinical and radiological outcomes when combined with appropriate surgical techniques and aftercare.