Flexor tenectomy: salvage surgery following feline onychectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Onychectomized cats (Felis catus) with inappropriate elimination behaviors or aggression may be responding to painful paw pathology, even several years after the initial onychectomy. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the onychectomized toes of this population of cats for pain (thorough physical examination and/or buprenorphine trial), pathological changes (using high-resolution radiographs) and response to tenectomy in those with hyperflexion of the proximal interphalangeal joint. METHODS: Cats in this study were previously onychectomized and exhibited inappropriate behaviors (inappropriate elimination, biting), exhibited pain associated with the onychectomy site or had behavioral improvements when put on a 2-week buprenorphine trial. A detailed history was obtained, including verification of proper litter box placement and management. Physical examinations included a close analysis of the onychectomized digits for resistance to extension and pain on palpation. Only cats with a normal urinalysis were included in the study. High-resolution radiographic imaging was performed on all study cats. A total flexor tenectomy was performed on cats with hyperflexion of the proximal interphalangeal joints. RESULTS: All 42 cats included in the study benefited from total flexor tenectomy surgery. Two cats remained biters, even after a long course of analgesic medication. All cats walked more comfortably post-tenectomy surgery. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Onychectomy can lead to pain, inappropriate elimination and aggressive behavior. The presented salvage tenectomy procedure can alleviate or eliminate inappropriate behaviors by reducing the pain from the original onychectomy.

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In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Radiology.

Computed tomography of masses of the brachial plexus and contributing nerve roots in dogs.

A retrospective analysis of masses of the brachial plexus and contributing nerve roots in dogs seen at the University of Minnesota over a 17-year period was conducted. The goal of the study was to characterize their computed tomographic (CT) appearance and determine the minimum mass size confidently detectable. Twenty-four cases with a recorded diagnosis of brachial plexus or caudal cervical nerve root mass were found, wherein both the medical records and CT images were available for evaluation. These masses were characterized based on the presence or absence of contrast enhancement, margin character, size, extent of local invasion, and presence of vertebral canal or spinal cord involvement. Within the limits of this study, and the available histopathology, there appeared to be no clinically exploitable relationship between the tomographic appearance and the histologic interpretation. Twenty masses were noted to contrast enhance, typically with rim enhancement and a hypodense center. Only two dogs had a palpable axillary mass on physical examination. As measured, based on the largest dimension within a single slice, detectable masses ranged from 1.0 to 6.5 cm.