Mandibular fractures in the cat. A retrospective study.
A retrospective study was made of 75 mandibular fractures in 62 cats. Mandibular fractures comprised 14.5% of all fractures seen in 517 cats. Automobile trauma was the cause of injury in more than 50% of the cases. The mean age of patients was 29.5 months. Symphyseal fractures were most common (73.3%), followed by fractures of the body (16%), condyle (6.7%), and coronoid process (4%). Sixty-seven percent of the fractures were stabilized. Cerclage and interfragmentary wiring were the most common forms of fixation. Antibiotics were administered to 73.6% of the patients. Complications were reported in 24.5% of the cats. Malocclusion and soft tissue infections were the most frequent complications. Complications developed more commonly in cats with multiple or open fractures. Clinical union occurred by an average of 6 weeks (range, 3-12 weeks) for symphyseal fractures, 10 weeks (range, 8-16 weeks) for body fractures, 6 weeks for coronoid fractures, and 6 weeks (range, 4-8 weeks) for condylar fractures.
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Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana.
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D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies