Evaluation of polyvinyl chloride splints for the treatment of long bone fractures in dogs
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Date
2003
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Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy
Abstract
The present study was undertaken with the objective to evaluate the
efficacy of PVC splints and its immobilizing effects in managing long bone
fractures in dogs.
The study was carried out in twelve clinical cases of fracture of radius
and ulna in dogs of either sex presented to the clinics of College of Veterinary
and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. The animals were randomly divided into two
groups (Group I and Group 11) consisting of six animals each.
After clinical examination of the animals, the fracture was reduced by
closed method under sedation by administering atropine sulphate followed by
xylazine hydrochloride intramuscularly and in certain cases, thiopentone
sodium was also administered 'to effect' general anaesthesia. The affected limb
was immobilized by application of plaster of Paris cast in Group I and
application of PVC splint in Group II.
All the animals were kept under observation for a period of 30 days after
the treatment in both the groups.
A marginal decrease in respiration rate and pulse rate and a normal
range of rectal temperature were observed during the early post-treatment
period in all the animals of both the groups.
Fifty per cent of animals in each group started bearing weight on the
affected limb by the end of 15th post-treatment day. Symptoms like soft tissue
trauma, oedema, instability, pain, loosening and mutilation of the immobilization devise were relatively more in animals of Group II, but these
complications could be attended readily in animals of this group. By the end of
30th post-treatment day, all the animals in Group I could bear weight and able to
walk on the affected limb, but pain at the fracture site persisted in three
animals. In Group II three animals were able to use the limb actively while
other animals exhibited a little difficulty in walking but the gait became normal
after some days.
A marginal increase in packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration
and total leucocyte count were observed on 15th post-treatment day in
haemogram. Differential leucocyte count revealed neutrophilia and decrease in
lymphocyte count on 15th post-treatment day. Eosinophil, basophil and
monocyte counts exhibited marginal variation during the post-treatment period.
By the end of 15th post-treatment day, periosteal reaction started
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developing at the site of fracture in majority of animals in each group. Perfect
apposition of the bone fragment was observed In one animal in Group 11.
Obliteration of medullary canal was noticed in all the animals of both the
groups. By 30th post-treatment day all animals in Group I and two animals in
Group II exhibited moderate amount of periosteal callus. Complete bridging of
fracture gap was noticed in two animals in Group I and four animals in Group
II. In all other animals gap between the bone fragments was evident partially.
An increase in serum alkaline phosphatase and serum acid phosphatase
level was observed in the immediate post-treatment period in all the animals.
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