Objective: To report a surgical technique and outcomes of transiliosacral toggle suture repair to treat feline bilateral sacroiliac luxation/fracture (SILF).
Study design: Retrospective study.
Animals: Fifteen client-owned cats.
Methods: The medical records of cats with bilateral SILF treated using a transiliosacral toggle suture repair were reviewed. Short- and medium-term outcomes were assessed through standard postoperative clinical evaluation and radiographs, including measurements of angle of deviation (AoD), percentage of reduction (PoR), and pelvic canal width ratio (PCWR). Long-term functional follow up was obtained from a questionnaire derived from the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI).
Results: Fifteen cats were enrolled retrospectively, among which 13 survived to discharge. One minor wound complication, treated by secondary intention healing, was encountered. No major complication was reported. Immediately postoperatively, the mean absolute PoR values were 88.1 ± 11.2% and 91 ± 11.6% on the right and left side, respectively. The mean absolute AoD was 3.1 ± 2.8°, and the mean PCWR was 1.24 ± 0.08. The medium-term radiographic follow up at a median of 205 (71-682) days postsurgery revealed the good stability of the repair. Excellent functional outcomes were identified upon the analysis of 12 long-term questionnaires at a median of 365 (119-798) days postsurgery.
Conclusion: Anatomic reduction was satisfactory and comparable with previously described techniques with good implant placement documented. Functional outcomes based on FMPI-derived questionnaires were good to excellent in our population.
Clinical significance: Transiliosacral toggle suture stabilization of bilateral SILF was associated with good outcomes in cats. Further studies are required to compare biomechanical properties and outcomes between this technique and previously described transiliosacral stabilization.
