Long Bone Fractures in Cats and Dogs: Characteristics and Available Treatment in Algiers: A Retrospective Study of 66 Fractures

Fractures in domestic carnivores are frequently seen in veterinary medicine in the world and are mostly due to impacts inflicted by car injury, trauma, or falls. Fracture type and pattern influence treatment choice. No data are available on long bone fracture in Algiers to provide young veterinarians in developing countries with information on these fractures and their practical treatment options.

Cases of long bone fractures were identified from files of patients presented for surgical consultation at the Surgical Department of the Higher National Veterinary School of Algiers. Characteristics, such as age, sex, circumstances and fracture classification were analysed. The type of selected treatment was also noted, as was the follow-up, when possible.

A total number of 66 fractures was recorded. Cats were more affected than dogs representing 70.7% versus 29,3% of the animals showing limb fractures (n=58). The proportions of males and females were respectively 65.9% and 34.1% in cats and 70.6% and 29.4% in dogs. Young animals under 12 months of age represented 82,9% of cats and 64.7% of dogs. Fall from a height was the primary cause in both cats and dogs (51.2% and 58.8%). Fracture of the femur was the most common fracture (51.1% in cats and 47.4% in dogs). Femoral fractures in cats were present on the proximal bone end in over 50 percent of cases. Among these, Eighty-three percent affected the head and/or neck of the bone. Most fractures were closed. Open fractures (23.4% in cats and 5.3% in dogs) affected the lower bones. Animals were treated by pinning, femoral head ostectomy, casting and, amputation (on open fractures of grade II and III). Assessing clinical outcome revealed that recovery in animals having undergone intramedullary pinning or cross pinning and femoral head ostectomy was estimate good in 96,43% of cases in cats and 77.78% in dogs.