Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-7 (TN)
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar-585 401 (Karnataka)
A four-months-old Doberman dog was presented with a history of road traffic accident showing symptoms of non-weight bearing with open wound on the medial aspect and instability of hock joint. Radiographic examination revealed the comminuted distal tibia Salter-Harris type II fracture involving metaphysis and physis. Under xylazine, ketamine and diazepam combination anaesthesia, an incision was made medially near fracture site in hanging limb method and the fragments were reduced. Stabilization was done with uniplanar bilateral fixator using 2.5 mm smooth pins. The connecting columns were constructed with locally made epoxy putty. After transfixation pinning, a 1.6 mm K-wire was also placed at fracture site as anti-rotational pin and closed the site. The weight bearing on the operated limb was noticed on the 3rd postoperative day and the dog was able to walk with slight limp. Bone healing was observed on the third week postoperative check x-ray and the dog started using the operated limb in a normal fashion. The fixator along with K-wire was removed after four weeks to prevent early growth plate closure. In one year long-term follow up period, free mobility of hock joint and no growth plate deformity of tibia were observed.
