Posted Feb 10 2011 6:44 AM by
Angie Baldwin
Lily Abrams
Lily Abrams is a 1 ½ yr old exuberant & rambunctious Labrador mix. She was adopted from Animal Control as a puppy and has been a patient of Post Pet Hospital since her adoption. She was presented in December with lameness on her left hind leg. Dr. Grosser diagnosed a medial luxating patella. She was sent home on anti-inflammatories and pain medication with instructions to leash walk only and rest. Dr. Grosser discussed surgical repair, but wanted to rule out confirmation or over exertion. At a 7 day recheck we did radiographs. Lily had good pelvic confirmation and minimal curvature to the tibias and at that time he graded her bilateral luxating patellas at a 1. Surgical repair was put on hold. One week later Lily was limping on both hind legs and we went ahead with surgical repair of both stifles.
Pre-operative bloodwork was done and an IV catheter placed. Pain medication was administerd pre-operatively and a Fentanyl patch was applied for post-operative pain. Lily was started on intravenous fluids for surgery while Dr. Grosser did a derotational suture and lateral imbrication on Lily’s right hind leg and a lateral imbrication on her left hind leg for repair. Lily was discharged on antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and an additional pain medication.
We spoke to the owner 24 hours post-operatively and Lily was weight bearing on both legs but pacing and would not lie down. Dr. Grosser increased her Tramadol (pain med) dose and recommended cold compresses. We rechecked Lily at one week and she was painful but weight bearing on both hind legs with good range of motion. Another week later Lily was non-weight bearing on her right hind leg. We radiographed her right hind leg and discovered that with Lily’s activity level she had broken down her surgical repair.
A second surgery was performed two weeks after the original surgery to repair the right hind leg again. We kept Lily hospitalized for 3 days post-operatively and she was discharged on a mild sedative. She had a minor set back with the weather when she slipped and fell on the ice but at this point she is like a new dog per the owner.
