Congenital deformity of the paw in a captive tiger: case report

There are several types of congenital hand anomalies in human patients and a variety of classification systems [1, 2]. According to morphological classification polydactyly indicates the presence of extra digits, syndactyly is an abnormal linkage between adjacent digits, brachydactyly refers to short digits, macrodactyly denominates large digits, and ectrodactyly or oligodactyly denotes defective digits [1, 3].

Ectrodactyly has been described in dogs and domestic cats but is considered rare [3–9]. In general, the anomaly in these species is unilateral and affects only the thoracic limb [4, 6–13], but bilateral involvement also has been reported [10, 14, 15]. A radiographic study in dogs with ectrodactyly classified the defects based on the site of division of the longitudinal axis of the paw [10]. Axial separation between metacarpal bones; abnormal carpal, metacarpal and phalangeal bones; syndactyly; and separation between the radius and ulna are some of the radiological features reported [5, 7, 10, 14]. In addition, elbow luxation has been associated with some ectrodactyly cases in dogs [5, 7, 10, 12]. Clinical signs of deformity and lameness may progress with age, even if the malformation has been present since birth [3, 7].

The purpose of the case reported here is to describe the clinical signs, diagnostic approach, treatment and outcome in the case of a tiger with a deformity of the paw.

A 1.5-year-old, 150 kg, intact male tiger (Panthera tigris) was admitted to the Veterinary Hospital of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (Unesp Botucatu) with a history of left thoracic limb lameness that had started to worsen approximately five months previous to admission. In addition, the tiger had avoided scratching with this paw. According to the owner, the tiger had a deformity in the left paw which had been noticed since birth, and this limb had always been lame. No treatment had been performed. He was the only cub born in a litter. Two other litters from the same parents showed no evidence of deformity. The tiger was kept in captivity in a large area with seven more tigers. The owner is authorized by federal agency to raise the tigers, and all animals are submitted to training program.

A) Clinical examination and diagnosis

The body condition indicated an obese animal. A deformity involving the second and third digits of the left front paw was observed. During walking the tiger showed lameness of the left thoracic limb, but without reducing the weight bearing of the affected limb when standing or sitting (Additional file 1: Movie 1). However, the second digit constantly struck the ground during locomotion. No muscle atrophy was observed. For physical and radiographic examination, the tiger was premedicated with ketamine (3 mg/kg IM; Ketamin, Cristália, Brazil) and dexmedetomidine (2 μg/kg IM; Precedex, Abbott, Brazil) using a blow dart, and anesthesia was induced with propofol (1 mg/kg IV; Propovan, Cristália, Brazil) and maintained with isoflurane (Isoforine, Cristália, Brazil). No abnormality was detected during the flexion and extension of the thoracic limb joints. A soft tissue separation between the second and third metacarpal bones of the left front paw was observed (Figure 1a and 1b). The claw of the second digit was worn down at the base (Figure 1c).

Medio-lateral radiography of both shoulders and both radius and ulna were performed, and medio-lateral and dorsopalmar radiographic views of both paws (Figure 2) were obtained. Radiographic views of both shoulders showed a small bone fragment at the caudal border of the glenoid cavity on the left shoulder. Comparison of the lengths of both radii revealed the left to be approximately 2 cm shorter than the right. However, the radial and ulnar physes had a normal appearance. Radiographic findings of the left paw included separation of soft tissue between the second and third metacarpal bones, separation between second and third carpal bones, the first metacarpal somewhat misshapen and fused to the proximal aspect of second metacarpal, and hypoplasia (shortening) of the second metacarpal bone with associated metacarpophalangeal luxation with the head of phalanx one malformed (Figure 2b). The first digit of the left paw had 2 phalanges as well as normal paw (Figure 2c).

Infrared thermography (Infra CamTM; FLIR Systems Inc.), accomplished by the software ThermaCAM Quick Report, was used to evaluate both paws and shoulders. Mean temperatures of the second and third digits of the left paw were 29°C and 31°C, respectively (Figure 3). No temperature differences were observed between right and left shoulder.

Based on the findings from the physical and radiographic examinations, a diagnosis of ectrodactyly was made.

B) Treatment and outcome

After receiving the owner’s consent, the surgical procedure was performed. Under general isoflurane (Isoforine, Cristália, Brazil) anesthesia, the tiger was positioned in right lateral recumbency and the left paw area was clipped and aseptically prepared for surgery. After clipping it was possible to identify one extra claw, which was located on the mediolateral region of the third metacarpal bone (Figure 1d). Two semicircular incisions were made dorsally and palmarly around the second digit metacarpophalangeal joint. The subcutaneous tissue was dissected, the arterial supply was ligated, the flexor and extensor tendons were transected, and the phalanges were removed by disarticulation between the metacarpal bone and proximal phalanx (Figure 4a). The distal portion of the metacarpal bone was removed using a roungeur (Figure 4b). A triangle of excess skin was removed dorsally. The retracted soft tissue was apposed with simple interrupted sutures and the subcutaneous tissue with a simple continuous pattern using sutures of 2-0 and 3-0 polyglactin, respectively. The skin incision was closed using simple interrupted sutures of monofilament 2-0 nylon (Figure 4c). Ceftriaxone (30 mg/kg IV; Ceftriona, Novafarma, Brazil) was administered during the surgery. Meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg orally q24h; Maxicam, Ouro Fino, Brazil) was administered immediately postoperatively and for two days after surgery. No complications were observed after surgery. Ten days after surgery the tiger was discharged (Figure 5a) (Additional file 2: Movie 2). Marked improvement of the locomotion was observed. An additional follow-up at 9 months after surgery (Figure 5b and 5c) found a good functional outcome for the tiger despite a low degree of lameness. According to the owner, the tiger returned to scratching the trees with the operated paw.

In dogs and domestic cats, ectrodactyly has been considered a highly heterogeneous disorder with different sites of soft tissue separation and a variety of abnormalities [7, 8, 10]. The radiographic and macroscopic features noted in this tiger were compatible with some reported cases of ectrodactyly [7, 10]. A study of 14 dogs with ectrodactyly found that the soft tissue separation extended up to the proximal metacarpal level in 85.7% of the cases and mainly between metacarpal bones one and two [10]. The same was noted in the present case, but the separation occurred between metacarpal bones two and three. Absence or hypoplasia of metacarpal and carpal bones may be present in cases of ectrodactyly [10]. In the present case, the second metacarpal bone was also hypoplastic. The luxation between this bone and the proximal phalanx could be congenital since the phalanx was malformed. There was also a traumatic component since the tiger was constantly striking his second digit on the ground. Differences in bone length such as decreased or increased length of both radius and ulna, or decreased ulna or increased radius have also been described [10]. In the present case both the radius and ulna were shorter in the affected limb. The radius and ulna physes appeared normal, implying that premature closure was not the cause of the shortened bones.

A supernumerary digit constituted only by the distal phalanx and connected to the fourth digit by cutaneous tissue was observed in a dog with ectrodactyly [11]. In the present case an extra claw was observed and presented no osseous connection to the third metacarpal bone.

In the majority of the reported canine ectrodactyly cases, the cause was unknown [5, 7, 8, 10, 15]. However, in domestic cats a mode of inheritance due to a heterozygous gene with variable expression has been demonstrated [14]. Except for hemivertebra [15], other detectable congenital abnormalities have not been found in most of the reported cases of ectrodactyly in dogs and cats [4–10, 12, 13]. In the present case, the tiger was the first of his species to show such a deformity, and no other abnormality was observed.

There is no specific management or treatment strategy for congenital anomalies, but the primary goals are to prevent progression of the condition and to improve quality of life. In case of minor lesions of ectrodactyly that do not affect limb function no treatment is required; however, reconstruction is necessary in severe cases [5, 7–9, 12]. In the present case the malposition of the digit was inducing lameness, because of the constant trauma of the digit on the ground as confirmed by the worn nail and luxation between the metacarpal bone and proximal phalanx. In addition, infrared thermography showed difference in heat radiation between the second and third digits. Since the second digit had decreased heat radiation, the lesion may be characterized as not inflammatory. Infrared thermography can be helpful to detect the source of lameness in wild animals, as observed in the present case [16]. Furthermore, no temperature differences were observed between right and left shoulder. Probably the small bone fragment at the caudal border of the glenoid cavity on the left shoulder was an incidental incomplete ossification of the glenoid rim.

Ulnar osteotomy or ostectomy, partial or pancarpal arthrodesis, use of orthopedic wire around adjacent bones, bone lengthening and soft tissue reconstruction are some procedures reported in dogs for treatment of ectrodactyly [5, 7–9, 12]. Surgical decision making and selection of the appropriate procedure depends on the species being treated, the type of deformity, the timing of surgery and the possible risk of physeal arrest [7, 9]. A few cases have been managed by amputation [6, 13]. In the present study, a soft tissue reconstruction of the cleft with excision of both the second digit and a portion of the second metacarpal bone was considered the best option. The third and fourth digits are considered the most important in dogs and cats because they are the primary weight-bearing digits, and no lameness is expected as a result of second digit removal [17]. Therefore, the low degree of lameness still present in the tiger is probably associated with the discrepancy in length between the thoracic limbs.

This report shows a rare deformity in an exotic feline that it is compatible to ectrodactyly. Reconstructive surgery of the cleft resulted in significant improvement of limb function.

Consent was obtained from the owner of the tiger for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.