A clinical study of external fixators for fracture management in dogs: the Madras veterinary college experience (2005–2006)

Twenty one clinical cases of unstable fractures of different configurations in dogs (humerus-1, radius-6, femur-6, tibia-8) were treated with application of unilateral uniplanar external fixator Type 1 a (humerus and femur) and an ancillary intramedullary pin, unilateral biplanar external fixator Type lb (radius) and Bilateral Type II (tibia). One dog underwent osteotomy of radius and ulna with external fixator application for correction of a carpal valgus. In four cases each of femoral and tibial fractures in dogs weighing less than 10 kg, a corrugated flexible PVC tube filled with locally available epoxy was used as the connecting bar. In the remaining thirteen cases, connecting bars and clamps were used. In two cases, the ‘tie in’ procedure was adopted. Thirteen cases were treated using the ‘hanging limb’ and the ‘open but do not touch procedure’. The techniques, postoperative care, radiology, clinical outcome, and complications were discussed.