Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur-680 651 (Kerala)
Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar-585 401 (Karnataka)
Three forms of external skeletal fixator (ESF) configurations were clinically employed to immobilize fractures of radius-ulna and tibia-fibula. The configurations used were unilateral (Type IA) acrylic fixator and bilateral, uniplanar (Type II) acrylic fixator for animals weighing less than 15 kg body weight. The third configuration was a Type II fixator which was provided with stainless steel connecting bar on one side and acrylic connecting bar on the other side of the animals weighing more than 15 kg body weight. Acrylic column of one centimetre diameter was found sufficient for use as connecting bar of external skeletal fixators, for immobilizing fractures of radius-ulna and tibia-fibula, in animals weighing less than 15 kg body weight. In heavier animals, a bilateral configuration of ESF with acrylic connecting bar on one side and stainless steel connecting bar on other side provided satisfactory stabilization for fractures of radius and ulna. A similar apparatus aided fracture healing in tibial fractures of heavier animals, but the stability was less and hence functional limb usage was slower in them.
