Evaluation of Traumatic Pelvic Fractures in Cats: Morbidity and MortalityRates- A Retrospective Study (2022-2023)

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of pelvic fractures in cats andto evaluate the causes of trauma, morbidity and mortality. The study included 224cats of various breeds, sexes and ages that presented with pelvic injuries between February 2022 and December 2023. Data were collected using the hospital's patient data base and by surveying pet owners by telephone. Data included sex, type of trauma, concomitant injuries with pelvic trauma, treatment methods and outcomesincluding mortality and morbidity. According to Messmer and Montavon's alpha numeric pelvic fracture classification, unilateral sacroiliac luxation was foundin 23.2% of cases (n=52), bilateral sacroiliac luxation in 23.7% of cases (n=53), and bilateral corpus ilium fracture in 25% of cases (n=56). The most common injuries associated with pelvic fractures were pneumothorax in 36.6% (n=82) of cases,pulmonary contusion in 21% (n=47) of cases, hind limb fractures in 21.8% (n=49)of cases, urinary incontinence due to peripheral nerve injury in 10.8% of cases, andforelimb fractures in 7.1% (n=16) of cases. Prognosis was excellent in 41.1% (n=92),good in 30.8% (n=69), poor in 1.3% (n=3) and death in 26.8% (n=60). Injuries to then on weight bearing and unilateral weightbearing portions of the pelvis generally hada favorable outcome. However, as the number of bilateral fractures and injuries tothe weightbearing portions of the pelvis increased, the mortality rate also increased.