Download PDF
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2004; 17(03): 125-130
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1632809
Clinical Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Internal splinting of dorsal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal instabilities in dogs and cats with the ComPact UniLock 2.0/2.4TM System[*]

K. Voss
1   Clinic for Small Animal Surgery, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
M. Keller
1   Clinic for Small Animal Surgery, University of Zurich, Switzerland
,
P. M. Montavon
1   Clinic for Small Animal Surgery, University of Zurich, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 30 September 2003

Accepted 30 January 2004

Publication Date:
08 February 2018 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Summary

Dorsal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal instabilities are considered to be uncommon in dogs and only a few cases have been reported in cats. Treatment usually consists at partial arthrodesis. Internal splinting of the affected joints represents an alternative surgical method, with the goal of preserving joint function. In the present study, 13 animals (10 cats and 3 dogs) with dorsal, dorsomedial or dorsolateral intertarsal or tarsometatarsal instabilities, treated with an internal fixator (ComPact UniLock 2.0/2.4™ System) in bridging function, were reviewed. The joint cartilage was left intact. Follow-up time ranged from one month to one year postoperatively. The clinical outcome was considered good or excellent in 12 of the animals and moderate in one cat. The implants were removed from three patients. Follow-up radiographs were available for 10 cases. Joint space narrowing, or joint fusion, occurred in three cases. A broken screw each in one cat and one dog did not affect the stability of the joints involved. The technique described is simple and less invasive than partial arthrodesis and results suggest it as being a valuable alternative to partial arthrodesis. Early implant removal might possibly prevent cartilage damage and joint fusion due to prolonged immobilization.

Keywords

Tarsus - dorsal instability - internal fixator

* STRATEC Medical, Oberdorf, Switzerland


 

  • References

  • 1 Allen MJ, Dyce J, Houlton JEF. Calcaneoquartal arthrodesis in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1993; 34: 205-10.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Campbell JR, Bennett D, Lee R. Intertarsal and tarso-metatarsal subluxation in the dog. J Small Anim Pract 1976; 17: 427-42.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Dee JF. Tarsal injuries. In: Bloomberg MS, Taylor RA, Dee JF. (eds). Canine Sports Medicine and Surgery. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders; 1998: 120-37.
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Dyce J. The hock. In: Houlton JEF, Collinson RW. (eds.). Manual of Small Animal Arthrology. BSAVA. England: Cheltenham; 1994: 301-24.
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Evans HE. Tarsal, metatarsal, and phalangeal joints. In: Evans HE. (ed). Anatomy of the Dog. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders; 1993: 252-7.
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Fettig AA, McCarthy RJ, Kowaleski MP. Intertarsal and tarsometatarsal arthrodesis using 2.0/2.7-mm or 2.7/3.5-mm hybrid dynamic compression plates. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2002; 38: 365-9.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Gorse MJ, Purinton PT, Penwick RC, Aron DN, Roberts RE. Talocalcaneal luxation. An anatomic and clinical study. Vet Surg 1990; 19: 429-34.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Guillard MJ. Dorsal tarsal instability in three racing greyhounds. J Small Anim Pract 2003; 44: 415-7.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Keller M, Voss K. Unilock: Applications in small animals. A0 Dialogue 2002; 15: 20-1.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Montavon PM, Pohler OEM, Olmstead ML, Wendelburg KL. The mini instrument and implant set and its clinical application. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1988; 01: 44-51.
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Muir P. Tarsometatarsal subluxation in dogs: Partial arthrodesis by plate fixation. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1999; 35: 155-65.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Penwick RC, Clark DM. A simple technique for tarsometatarsal arthrodesis in small animals. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1988; 24: 183-8.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Piermattei DL, Flo GL. Principles of joint surgery. In: Piermattei DL, Flo GL. (eds). Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders; 1997: 201-17.
    Google Scholar
  • 14 Piermattei DL, Flo GL. Fractures and other orthopedic injuries of the tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges. In: Piermattei DL, Flo GL. (eds). Handbook of Small Animal Orthopedics and Fracture Repair. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders; 1997: 607-55.
    Google Scholar
  • 15 Salter RB. et al. The biological effect of continuous passive motion on the healing of fullthickness defects in articular cartilage. J Bone and Joint Surg 1980; 62: 1232-51.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Schmökel HG, Harmeier GE, Kaser-Hotz B, Weber UT. Tarsal injuries in the cat: A retrospecive study of 21 cases. J Small Anim Pract 1994; 35: 156-62.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Sikes JW, Smith BR, Mukherjee DP, Coward KA. Comparison of fixation strengths of locking head and conventional screws, in fracture and reconstruction models. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1998; 56: 468-73.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Welch JA. The tarsus and metatarsus. In: Slatter D. (ed). Textbook of Small Animal Surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders; 2002: 2158-80.
    Google Scholar