Answer: A fracture is a break or crack in a bone caused by the application of physical force. The bone must often fracture by the cat is the femur in the hind leg. But also common are fractures of the pelvis, the coccygeal vertebrae, usually requiring amputation of the tail, and the lower jaw.
Fractures are termed open or closed depending on whether or not the skin surface is also disrupted by the injury. Sometime the broken end of the bone is even pushed out through the skin. Open fractures are, as one would except, more likely to become infected. Other classifications of the fractures are based on the number of breaks, fragments of bone, or on the amount of damage done to the surrounding tissues. However, from the point of the view of the first aid, such classification is unimportant. The only type which is popularly referred to is a ‘greenstick fracture’ in which the bone is not completely broken but merely cracked and bent. This type usually occurs in young animals where the bones are still flexible.
There are six main signs of fracture but not all of them are always present:
1 Pain around the fracture site, which makes the animal resent handling and can lead to shock.
2 Swelling around the fracture due to bleeding and brushing.
3 An unnatural degree of movement. The lower part of the limb, or end of tail, may swing freely or even by dragged along.
4 A loss of function. The cat is not able to move or use the fractured part normally. It may appear lame, because it cannot put weight onto a limb.
5 There may be deformity such as lump or sharp edge which can be felt somewhere along then bone. A limb may appear shorter or abnormally twisted, or the skull appear sunken.
6 A grating noise (crepitus) may be heard when the animal moves or the part is handled. This is due to the rough, broken ends of the bones moving against each other.
If, when you examine the cat, you are doubtful about the sharp of a bone, or the degree of movement, it is useful to compare the same part on the other side of the body.
