kitty with healed broken leg?

Question
Hi Dr. Connell,

We recently adopted a 1 yr old male cat with a broken leg. It had been splinted by the pound and we were advised that it was a fracture of the tib/fib bone and an overriding fracture and would need a pin inserted. We took him to our vet who decided he did not need surgery, just more time in the splint as a good callous was forming around the fracture. After three months total, the splint came off and the leg was very atrophied looking though not visibly crooked. He still doesn't want to put any weight on the leg and avoids jumping on any surface with "give," such as a bed-- I assume bc he can't be sure he'll be able to land without hurting his leg.

I'm wondering if this is normal behavior for a cat who had a splint on for so long? Is he not using the leg bc it isn't strong bc of the atrophy? Will it take awhile for him to be willing to put weight on the leg? If so, how long should we give him? Or should we assume that he's still in pain and it didn't heal properly? If that's the case... what would be the best course now?

Thanks so much!
Erin

Answer
First of all, I am not a doctor. My profile and link state that I am a vet tech- a Registered Veterinary Technician.
So I cannot diagnose- only give advice.

Three months is a long time for a leg to be in a splint. It should be atrophied in that length of time! Most splints are not left on for three months. In a year or two, you will hardly remember this cat's leg was broken. It will take some time, could be a year even,but he will regain the use of the leg, the muscles will fill in and strengthen.

Right now he is understandably tentative about using the leg. It will take some time, but he most likely will start to walk on it in a few weeks.

So just give him time, make sure he eats a high quality food like Science Diet with the proper amount of nutrients and proteins to rebuild muscle, and he should do well. But time is what he needs.