Guest guest Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 I actually would love some feedback on this topic as well as I have been dealing with a similar situation for over 2 months now. A 3 year old mixed breed dog with a gun-shot wound shattering the proximal and mid-shaft of her left femur. Plate, rod, and screws put in. According to the owner, she was initially utilizing the limb as well as flexing the stifle. After 3 wks she stopped using the limb and flexing the stifle. So the owner returned back to the surgeon. There was nothing to indicate why (no changes in hardware) so he sent the dog for rehab. I have been seeing her religiously 3 times/week for the past 2 months. At the time of initial eval, I could only flex her stifle to 90 degrees but with a springy end feel. She was non-weight bearing on the limb. I have extensively worked on that limb with weight bearing exercises, aggressive range of motion and massage, heat, mobs, UWTM, Laser, e-stim. She also has had 2 sessions of shockwave to try to address the nonunion/no bone growth issue. When she has been sedated for the shockwave, I have been manipulating the stifle and tissues. She also gets electric acupuncture by an outside vet. Initally I was able to get the stifle close to full flexion with 30 minutes of manual work. Now I can no longer flex the stifle past 90 degrees (hard end feel) and when she does use the limb (which is only in the UWTM, with static standing exercises, and about 10% of the time with ambulation on land) she peg-legs it. She does not actively flex her stifle at all. We have had our neurosurgeon look at her and she found the femoral nerve to be completely affected, and the sciatic partially affected. She suggested amputation as it has now been over 4 months and we have made no gains (and have lost ground with the stifle flexion). At what point do we call it quits? I hate to give up on her. I would love any thoughts/feedback on this girl as the owners are so dedicated and have done everything they can for her. -- Shari Sprague MPT, CCRTDirector of Canine RehabilitationCoral Springs Animal Hospital Coral Springs, FLAssociate Faculty MemberCCRA Internship CoordinatorCanine Rehabilitation Institute www.CanineRehabInstitute.com shari@... Proud " mom " to: " Kaya " AJP, AXP, PJ2, RL2, PS2, PD2, PG1, NAS, NJS, TNS-N, CGC " Nico " After All's Nico Blue NAP, CGC " Abby " CH Thornapple Pure Poison AJP, OAP, CGC, NR-S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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