A CLINICAL STUDY ON TREATMENT OF LONG BONE FRACTURES USING EXTERNAL SKELETAL FIXATION IN DOGS
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Date
2012-02
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SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA
Abstract
ABSTRACT :
The present clinical study was undertaken in 12 dogs presented with long bone fractures for treatment at Campus Veterinary Hospital, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Bhoiguda, Secunderabad during the year 2010-2011. Routine clinical examination followed by radiography was used for diagnosis. Out of the 12 dogs studied, 3 dogs had open fractures and the remaining 9 dogs had closed fractures. Two of the 3 open fractures were seen in radius-ulna and the third case involved tibia. Out of the 9 cases of closed fractures, 8 were simple transverse fractures and one comminuted fracture. These 12 dogs were randomly assigned to groups I and II, irrespective of the age, sex or breed. The first group was treated with Type 1a linear external skeletal fixator and the second group with free-form external skeletal fixator. Only fractures of femur, tibia-fibula, humerus and radius-ulna were included in the present study. Group I dogs were treated with Type 1a stainless steel linear external skeletal fixator. Dogs in group II were treated with Free-form external skeletal fixator using epoxy compound as the connecting bar. Inj. Ceftriaxone sodium was administered at a rate of 20mg/kg body weight as intravenous injection for the first ten days postoperatively. Inj. Meloxicam was administered preoperatively for pain relief at the dose rate of 0.2 mg per kg intramuscularly and continued postoperatively for 4 days once a day. The limb was bandaged with modified Robert Jones bandage with an inner layer of bandage between the fixator and the skin in both the group of dogs. The inner layer was replaced every alternate day until the pin tracts had stopped discharging. The suture lines as well as the pin entry points were cleaned with normal saline and Povidone-iodine was infused through the pin tracts during the entire post operative period. Clinical evaluation was routinely carried out at periodical intervals for swelling, exudation, weight bearing and stability of the implant in all the dogs of the two groups. Post-operative radiographs were obtained immediately after surgery and at the end of 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week for evaluation of the fracture healing.
From the results of the present clinical study it was concluded that both the types of external skeletal fixation were useful in treatment of long bone fractures in dogs. However, the linear external skeletal fixator was considered more versatile since it allowed post-operative adjustment. The free-form external skeletal fixator did not allow
any adjustment following its application. However, free-form external skeletal fixator facilitated its application even in those cases where the half pins could not be placed in a linear fashion. In addition, it was felt that the use of free-form external skeletal fixator in young, rapidly growing puppies needed further evaluation. Free-form external skeletal fixator was found to be relatively inexpensive and required lesser instrumentation.
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