Comparing two techniques for onychectomy in cats and two adhesives for wound closure

In studies of 252 healthy cats admitted for forepaw onychectomy, the animals were allocated to 1 of 4 treatment groups. The 2 onychectomy techniques were disarticulation amputation of the third phalanx (P3) or bony amputation, leaving the remnant of the flexor process of P3 in situ. Cats in each onychectomy group were subjected to wound closure using 1 or 2 drops (0.06 ml/drop) of either Nexaband or Vetband. The wound was then digitally compressed lateral to medial and held for 10s while the glue polymerized. Both glues used are n-butyl monomers of cyanoacrylate with strong haemostatic properties. Postoperative analgesia was achieved with single injection of either oxymorphone (0.03 mg/kg) or butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg). Of the 252 cats in the study, 167 (66%) returned for both 7-day and 6-month rechecks after surgery. No differences were found between the 2 glues with respect to lameness, dehiscence, or claw regrowth. Lameness occurred in 11% of cats and more frequently with disarticulation amputation (16%) than with bony amputation (5%). Dehiscence occurred in 17% of the cats (22% and 12%, in 2 groups respectively). Lameness was associated with dehiscence. Claw regrowth occurred only in the bony amputation (10%) group and was noted only at the 6-month recheck. The mean time to perform disarticulation amputation (0.82 h) was greater than the time to perform bony amputation (0.39 h). The development of dehiscence was not associated with the length of surgery..