Summary
A retrospective study between 1995 and 2004 of fracture repair in cats (n=46) using
interlocking nails (ILN) was made. Only the cases in which clinical and radiographic
examination of bone healing were available are included. Five humeral and twenty eight
femoral fractures were reviewed. Multiple-hole interlocking nails (MH-ILN) were used
in 22 fractures, with the four-hole model (FH-ILN) in the remaining cases. In three
of the cases, the FH-ILN was transformed to a three-hole model by cutting the nail
between the two most distal holes. The average length of humeral ILN was 78.8 mm,
and the femoral ILN was 97.2 mm. Static fixation was performed in 27 cases, with dynamic
fixation in the remaining. The medullary canal filling was 100% in both radiographic
views in 16 cases. Intra-operative complications were encountered in two cases. A
total number of 76 screws were inserted, with 5.26% of them being malpositioned. Malunion,
in a deformed femur, and partial unscrewing of one screw were the only radiographic
complications observed at the time of follow-up. The clinical outcome, as well as
fracture healing, were excellent in all of the cases. The results of this study indicate
that the 4.0 and 5.0 mm MH-ILN and FH-ILN can be used to repair simple or comminuted
humeral and femoral fractures in cats.
Keywords
Interlocking nail - femoral - humeral - fracture - cats