Cats Bounce Back: High Recovery and Owner Satisfaction After Limb Amputation for Bone Tumors

Limb amputation for feline appendicular bone tumors results in excellent recovery outcomes and high owner satisfaction with a low incidence of complications

Shogo Kimura et al

Background
Limb amputation is a standard treatment for feline appendicular bone tumors, yet limited data exist on recovery outcomes and owner satisfaction in this context. Although prior studies have reported favorable outcomes in both cats and dogs, they have not specifically addressed differences in outcome based on the limb amputated. This multi-institutional retrospective study aimed to assess postoperative complications and evaluate functional recovery and owner satisfaction following thoracic or pelvic limb amputation in cats.

Methods
Medical records from 15 referral institutions were reviewed to identify cats that underwent single-limb amputation for primary appendicular bone tumors between 2006 and 2019. Amputation types included forequarter, coxofemoral disarticulation, midfemoral amputation, and hemipelvectomy. Postoperative complications were categorized by the Accordion Severity Grading System. Owners were surveyed regarding time to ambulation, changes in activity or behavior, perceived quality of life (QoL), and overall satisfaction.

Results
Sixty-eight cats were included. Short- and long-term postoperative complications occurred in 11.8% and 5.9% of cats, respectively, with most complications being mild. Severe complications were rare and managed effectively. The majority of cats (86.4%) walked unsupported within 7 days post-surgery. Behavioral changes were minimal, reported in only 7.7% of cases. Activity levels remained unchanged in 75.8% of cats, and 82.4% were rated as having excellent QoL post-amputation. Owner satisfaction was high, with 98.5% expressing satisfaction and 74.2% being very satisfied. No significant differences were found in complications or satisfaction between thoracic and pelvic limb amputation groups.

Limitations
The retrospective nature of the study and non-standardized follow-up introduced variability. Survey-based data were subject to recall bias, and the questionnaire lacked specific assessments for postoperative pain or timing of responses. Additionally, small subgroup sizes limited statistical power for comparisons between amputation levels.

Conclusions
Cats generally recover rapidly and fully following thoracic or pelvic limb amputation for appendicular bone tumors, with a low rate of complications and high owner satisfaction. These findings support the procedure as a viable and well-tolerated option for feline patients. Close monitoring for pain and proactive management may further enhance outcomes and owner perceptions.

Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.