The unilateral external fixator and acrylic connecting bar, combined with I.M pin, for the treatment of tibial fractures

J. Shani; R. Shahar

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1632722

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2002; 15(02): 104-110
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1632722

Clinical Communication

Schattauer GmbH

The unilateral external fixator and acrylic connecting bar, combined with I.M pin, for the treatment of tibial fractures

J. Shani

¹Animal Medical Center Netanya, Israel

,

R. Shahar

²Section of Surgery, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

A unilateral external skeletal fixator (ESF) system with an acrylic connecting bar, combined with an intramedullary (I.M) pin, was used to treat simple, comminuted and open fractures of the tibia in 12 clinical cases occurring in large and small dogs, and in cats. A minimal surgical approach was used in all cases. The I.M pin was placed first, in the normograde fashion, to align the tibial fragments. Transfixation pins were then inserted from the medial side, using previously published guidelines for safe corridors in the tibia (30), thus minimizing the potential for soft tissue trauma. An acrylic connecting bar was used in all of the cases, enabling connection of pins that were not in the same plane. All of the fractures healed uneventfully. This report shows that unilateral ESF with an acrylic connecting bar, combined with an I.M pin, is an effective method for the repair of a wide variety of tibial fractures.

Keywords

Acrylic connecting bar - tibia - unilateral ESF (Type l-a) - I.M pin

Full Text

References

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