Tension band wiring for the management of avulsionfracture of tibial tuberosity in a dog

A two-month-old male Rottweiler pup was brought with the history of falling from a height and swelling of right stifle with marked non-weight bearing lameness. Clinical and radiographic examination of the right stifle revealed avulsion fracture of right tibial tuberosity. Anaesthesia was induced with Diazepam, Xylazine and Ketamine combination by intravenous route and maintained with 2% Isoflurane-oxygen mixture. The animal was controlled on left lateral recumbency and the right stifle was approached through cranio lateral curvilinear skin incision. The tibial head was exposed and the fractured tuberosity was identified. The stifle joint was extended fully and the fractured fragment was brought into alignment. Two K-wires of 1.5 mm diameter were drilled into the upper shaft of the tibia and bent into ‘L’ shape. A 20G S.S wire was passed through the drill hole on the distal end of the fragment and passed into a figure of eight fashion and fixed over the ‘L’ shaped K-wires for immobilization. The subcutaneous fascia and skin incision were closed by routine manner. The affected limb was immobilized with plaster of Paris bandage from hip to hock. The animal was administered with Ceftriaxone @ 1gm and Dexamethasone 4 mg intravenously daily for a week. The cutaneous sutures were removed on 8^th postoperative day and immobilized with plaster of Paris bandage again. Periodical check X-rays of the stifle were taken to assess the healing. The immobilization bandage was removed on 6th week and the animal made an uneventful recovery.