Amputation

Choosing the best treatment option for a rabbit with a broken leg

“…A fracture/dislocation of the hock is challenging to repair, but not attempting to treat it would have been inconceivable. Therefore, amputation may have been chosen as the easiest and cheapest option, despite the fracture not meeting any of the accepted criteria for amputation (ie, neoplasia, malunion, non‐union, debilitating peripheral nerve damage, congenital deformity, severe arthritis, ischemic necrosis or revision of a traumatic injury) 2 …”

“…Therefore, amputation may have been chosen as the easiest and cheapest option, despite the fracture not meeting any of the accepted criteria for amputation (ie, neoplasia, malunion, non-union, debilitating peripheral nerve damage, congenital deformity, severe arthritis, ischemic necrosis or revision of a traumatic injury). 2 However, in retrospect, amputating the leg would not have been in the rabbit's best interest. Although some rabbits with amputated legs manage well, especially if it is a forelimb that is removed, by definition, amputation leaves the animal with a disability.…”