Dr. Bhagavantappa BB SHARANABASAVA2024-09-132024-09-132024https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810214459A retrospective study conducted in and around the Bidar from January 2016 to December 2021 recorded the frequency of femoral fractures in dogs. Out of 27,571 cases reviewed during this retrospective study, 190 dogs were identified as having fractures. The highest prevalence was observed in dogs younger than one year (42.35%), male dogs (78.82%), mongrels (82.35%), with predominantly transverse fractures (47.10%) occurring in the diaphysis (80.00%), mainly attributable to automobile accidents (57.64%). Additionally, the study aimed to assess the healing properties of femur fractures in puppies when immobilized using either titanium elastic nailing system (TENS) or end threaded intramedullary pinning. Twelve clinical cases involving puppies with femoral fractures were randomly allocated into two groups. Pre-operative clinical, physical, physiological, and radiological examinations were conducted to assist in surgical planning. Femoral fractures in puppies belonging to group I were treated using TENS, while those in group II underwent repair with endthreaded intramedullary pinning, following the respective application procedures for each method. The healing of the fractures was studied at intervals of 0th, 15th, 30th and 60th post-operative days based on clinical, biochemical and radiological analysis. Both groups underwent clinical assessment for weight-bearing and grading of lameness at appropriate intervals throughout the study. Puppies treated with TENS exhibited weight-bearing during walking as early as the 3rd post-operative day, while those treated with end threaded intramedullary pinning began weight-bearing during walking by the 7th post-operative day. Puppies of both groups started to bear weight on the fractured limb while standing (toe pointing) immediately after surgical repair. Lameness grading in both groups indicated that TENS demonstrated statistically superior healing times compared to end threaded intramedullary pinning. Physiological and biochemical parameters assisted in analyzing the biological process of fracture healing. Post-operative radiographic studies revealed early callus formation and consolidation of the fracture in TENS compared to endthreaded intramedullary pinning. Radiographically, all the puppies showed good progression towards healing, with maximum bridging callus recorded in group I compared to group II, indicative of the superior healing characteristics of TENS. Post-operative complications were observed in both groups, with two in each group. Based on the results obtained in the study, it was inferred that both implants provided sufficient stability and immobilization of fracture fragments, enabling early ambulation of puppies with femoral fractures. TENS was found to provide early and consistent functional outcomes of the fractured limb in puppies without affecting the growth plate when compared with endthreaded intramedullary pinning technique.EnglishThesis