Rradiographic healing of long bone fractures using type IA external skeletal fixation in combination with intramedullary pinning in dogs

Eight dogs presented with complete fracture of long bones were treated using Type IA external skeletal fixation in combination with intramedullary pinning and were evaluated for radiographic healing. Follow up radiographs were taken before and immediately after surgery and at fortnightly intervals, up to 8 weeks. From the immediate postoperative radiograph, sufficient alignment and apposition between the fracture fragments could be observed in all except two cases, where mild angulation between the fracture fragments appeared insignificant clinically. From the successive postoperative radiographs, rate of callus formation varied with the age of the animal, type of fracture and stability of the apparatus. Rapid callus formation could be noticed in three young growing animals and necessitated the removal of implants by sixth week in one. In the second postoperative week radiograph, bone splintering could be noticed in one animal that was recumbent over the implants due to spondylosis. In one old animal, no evidence of callus could be observed even by eighth postoperative week and resulted in nonunion.