Biological Osteosynthesis Versus Traditional Anatomic Reconstruction of 20 Long-Bone Fractures Using an Interlocking Nail: 1994-2001

• Published in: Veterinary surgery 2004-05, Vol.33 (3), p.232-237
• Main Authors: Horstman DVM, Christopher L., Beale, Brian S., Conzemius, Michael G., Evans PhD, Rich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Nails - veterinary; Bone Remodeling; Dogs - injuries; Dogs - surgery; Female; Femoral Fractures - epidemiology; Femoral Fractures - surgery; Femoral Fractures - veterinary; Fracture Fixation, Internal - veterinary; Fractures, Comminuted - epidemiology; Fractures, Comminuted - surgery; Fractures, Comminuted - veterinary; Humeral Fractures - epidemiology; Humeral Fractures - surgery; Humeral Fractures - veterinary; Male; Records as Topic - veterinary; Retrospective Studies; Texas - epidemiology; Tibial Fractures - epidemiology; Tibial Fractures - surgery; Tibial Fractures - veterinary; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0161-3499; 1532-950X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2004.04034.x

Objective— To observe differences in surgical and healing times as well as complication rates in dogs with a comminuted long‐bone fracture stabilized with an interlocking nail (IN) using either anatomic or biologic repair. Study Design— Retrospective study. Animals— Twenty client‐owned dogs with comminuted long‐bone fractures. Methods— Medical records for dogs with fractures repaired during a 7‐year period were reviewed; 20 dogs had repair with an IN nail and radiographic evidence of healing. These 20 dogs where divided into 2 groups, anatomic (11 dogs) and biological (9) repair, for statistical evaluation. Surgical and healing time and complication rates were compared between groups. Results— Median surgical times were: anatomic (95 minutes) and biologic (110 minutes; P=.06). Median healing times were anatomic (8 weeks) and biologic (6 weeks; P=.04). No statistical differences were observed in complication rates (the likelihood that a case required a second surgery [P=.58], the likelihood of a complication that was managed non‐surgically [P=.27]). Use of a bone graft did not shorten healing times (P=.55). Conclusions— Biological osteosynthesis provides clinical advantages over anatomic reconstruction with respect to a reduction in surgical and healing time without increasing complication rates. Clinical Relevance— Highly comminuted long‐bone fractures can be successfully repaired using an IN without reconstructing the fracture fragments in dogs.