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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2002; 15(04): 228-232
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1632744
Clinical Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Two unreported modes of interlocking nail failure: breakout and screw bending

J. T. Suber
1   South Carolina Surgical Referral Service, Columbia, SC, USA
,
R. R. Basinger
1   South Carolina Surgical Referral Service, Columbia, SC, USA
,
W. G. Keller
1   South Carolina Surgical Referral Service, Columbia, SC, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 24 August 2001

Accepted 20 June 2002

Publication Date:
08 February 2018 (online)

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Summary

Interlocking nails (ILN) have been successfully used to repair fractures of the humerus, femur, and tibia in dogs and cats. The purpose of these case reports is to describe two previously unreported complications of ILN use that occurred in three skeletally immature large breed dogs. Two cases of breakout of the ILN, through previously intact corticocancellous bone and one case of screw bending through the nail, resulted in loss of reduction and stability requiring additional surgery. Stability of the ILN construct depends upon proper placement of the ILN within the main fracture fragments, maximal medullary canal filling, and adequate nail and screw strength. In these cases, technical errors with ILN placement, relatively soft metaphyseal bone, as well as deficiencies in the ILN system may have factored into these failures.

Keywords

Interlocking nails - fixation failure
 

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