Fractures of the Proximal Ulna in Dogs

Summary

In a retrospective study of fractures of the proximal ulna in dogs, 22 cases were identified over a 12-year period. Follow-up data was available for 13 dogs. Fractures of the proximal ulna were often comminuted, and most commonly had an intra-articular component affecting the ulnaro-humeral joint. Common causes included: motor vehicle trauma and falls from a height. Blunt thoracic trauma and additional orthopaedic injuries were often seen with the more severe types of fractures.

Healing of intra-articular proximal ulnar fractures usually occurred after anatomical reconstruction and rigid internal fixation. Secondary osteoarthritis was minimal. The pin and tension band technique gave satisfactory results for simple non-articular fractures of the olecranon, but for intra-articular fractures this fixation method was associated with a greater incidence of complications such as: implant breakage, delayed union and infection. Implant loosening or breakage and delayed union were not observed, when fracture fixation with bone plates placed on the caudal or lateral aspects of the ulna was performed. Localized infection associated with a bone plate was identified in one of 10 patients and plate removal was carried out after the fracture had healed.

Fractures of the proximal ulna in 13 dogs were frequently intra-articular and comminuted. Most fractures stabilized with tension band fixation or a small bone plate on the caudal surface of the ulna healed with minimal secondary osteoarthritis. However, complications with tension band fixation were common.

Keywords

Fracture - proximal ulna - dogs - internal fixation

• REFERENCES

• 1 Phillips IR. A survey of bone fractures in the dog and cat. J Small Anim Pract 1979; 20: 661-74.
• 2 Birchard SJ, Bright RM. The tension band wire for fracture repair in the dog. Comp Cont Ed Pract Vet 1981; 3: 37-41.
• 3 Palmer RH, Aron DN, Chambers JN. A combined tension band and lag screw technique for fixation of olecranon osteotomies. Vet Surg 1988; 17: 328-32.
• 4 Clark DM. Treatment of open comminuted intraarticular fractures of the proximal ulna in dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1987; 23: 331-6.
• 5 Robins GM, Eaton-Wells R, Johnson K. Customized hook plates for metaphyseal fractures, nonunions and osteotomies in the dog and cat. Vet Comp Orthop Traumat 1993; 6: 56-61.
• 6 Harrison JW. Fractures of the proximal radius and ulna. In: Manual of internal fixation in small animals. Brinker WO, Hohn RB, Prieur WD. (eds) Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1984: 144-6.
• 7 Schwarz PD, Schrader SC. Ulnar fracture and dislocation of the proximal radial epiphysis (Monteggia lesion) in the dog and the cat: A review of 28 cases. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1984; 185: 190-4.
• 8 Prymak C, Bennett D. Excision arthroplasty of the humeroradial joint. J Small Anim Pract 1986; 27: 307-11.
• 9 Piermattei DL. An Atlas of Surgical Approaches to the Bones and Joints of the Dog and Cat. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; Third Edition. 1993: 186-7.
• 10 Piermattei DL. An Atlas of Surgical Approaches to the Bones and Joints of the Dog and Cat. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; Third Edition. 1993: 192-5.
• 11 Huibregtse BA, Johnson AL, Muhlbauer MC, Pijanowski GJ. The effect of treatment of fragmented coronoid process on the development of osteoarthritis of the elbow. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1994; 30: 190-5.
• 12 Wind AP. Elbow incongruity and developmental elbow diseases in the dog: Part 1. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1986; 22: 711-24.
• 13 Helphrey ML, Stevenson S. Osteoarticular allogeneic bone grafting in dogs. Vet Surg 1980; 9: 83-7.