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CC BY 4.0 · VCOT Open 2024; 07(01): e23-e32
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1782532
Clinical Communication

Combined Intramedullary Pinning for the Stabilisation of Distal Diaphyseal and Metaphyseal Femoral Fractures in Five Skeletally Immature Dogs

Madison Baskette
1   Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
,
Valentine D. Verpaalen 
1   Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
,
Whitney D. Hinson
1   Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
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Abstract

The aim of this retrospective case series was to evaluate outcomes of distal normograde intramedullary pinning combined with dynamic intramedullary pinning for the stabilisation of distal diaphyseal and metaphyseal femoral fractures in five juvenile dogs. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to evaluate signalment, interval from injury to surgery, fracture classification, concurrent injuries, apparatus, fracture healing and any complications. Final follow-up at skeletal maturity consisted of orthopaedic examination and orthogonal radiographs of bilateral femurs. Radiographs were evaluated for osteoarthritis, femoral length and alignment. Three of four dogs that returned for short-term follow-up healed without complication at 4 weeks postoperatively. One dog experienced pin migration and delayed union, requiring pin removal. All four dogs that returned for final follow-up demonstrated excellent limb function based on owner assessment and orthopaedic examination. Radiographic evaluation revealed mild stifle osteoarthritis in two dogs. All dogs demonstrated continued growth of the affected femur with mild discrepancies in length compared with the contralateral femur at skeletal maturity. Two dogs developed subclinical femoral neck retroversion relative to the normal contralateral limb. Combined intramedullary pinning may be an appropriate treatment option for select distal femoral fractures in skeletally immature dogs; however, more rigid fixation methods should be considered when possible, to effectively counter rotational forces during fracture healing.

Keywords

fracture - dogs - femur - pinning - skeletally immature


Publication History

Received: 20 June 2023

Accepted: 01 February 2024

Article published online:
18 March 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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