Veterinary Student Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Analysis of Patient Outcome and Owner Satisfaction with Multiple Limb Amputations: Fourteen Dogs and Four Cats. Magidenko SR1, Buote N2, Peterson N3, Pisani G4. 1Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY; 2Cornell University Hospital for Animals, Department of Clinical Sciences, Soft Tissue Section, Ithaca, NY; 3Cornell University Hospital for Animals, Department of Clinical Sciences, Emergency and Critical Care Section, Ithaca, NY; 4Centro Veterinario Pisani, Luni SP, Italy.
Objective: To evaluate the indications for, complications, and surgical outcomes of dogs and cats that were treated with multiple limb amputations. Animals: 14 dogs and four cats. Procedures: Data collected included patient-specific (species, age, weight, breed, sex, existing comorbidities) and amputation-specific (indication for amputation, full or partial limb amputation, associated complications, need for revision surgeries) variables. Owner satisfaction scores were also collected.
Results: The most common indication for multiple amputations was trauma in 12/18 (66.7%) patients. Eleven patients (61.1%) had both amputations performed simultaneously. Nine of the 18 patients (50%) had multiple partial-limb amputations versus disarticulation amputations. Twelve of the 18 patients (66.7%) underwent bilateral pelvic limb amputations, four (22.2%) underwent bilateral thoracic limb amputations, and two (11.1%) had one pelvic and one contralateral thoracic limb amputated. Five of the 18 patients (27.8%) reported complications over the course of the follow-up period, of which three were considered major. Revision surgery was reported in 2/18 animals (11.1%). Owner satisfaction scores were reported as: 14/18 (77.8%) very satisfied/excellent, 3/17 (17.6%) mildly satisfied, and 1/17 (5.9%) strongly dissatisfied. Median time to follow up was 450 days (range 85–4380 days). Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Given the overall high owner satisfaction score in this study and the relatively low rate of major complications, the authors believe multiple limb amputation may be a viable alternative to advanced limb-sparing procedures or humane euthanasia.