Stabilisation of hard palate midline fracture using a trans‐maxillary screw in cats: A report of two cases

Abstract This report describes a novel surgical method for treatment of midline fractures of the hard palate and separation of the midline palatal mucosa in cats using a trans‐maxillary screw. To the authors’ knowledge, this treatment method has not been previously described. Most methods described to repair hard palate fractures in cats involve the creation of palatine mucosal flaps, which are sutured to close the soft tissue defect rather than addressing the palatine bone fracture. Two cats were presented with traumatic separation of the midline palatine mucosa and palatine symphysis; the palatal processes were reduced and maintained with a trans‐maxillary screw allowing a tension‐free closure of the palatine mucosa. No intraoperative complications occurred, and healing of the palatine soft tissues was excellent in both cases. This report provides another technique that can be considered for the management of cats with traumatic hard palate separation.