A clinical study on external fixators for long bone fracture management in dogs

Twenty one cases of unstable fractures of different configurations involving humerus, femur, radius and ulna were treated with external skeletal fixation frame. Type Ia in combination with intramedullary pin fixation (humerus (H) n=1, femurs (F) n=6), Type Ib (radius (R) n=6) and Type II (tibia (T) n=8) carried out. Functional limb usage was noticed in 8 cases (F=3, R=1, T=4) on the 1^st week, in 6 cases by 2^nd week, in 5 cases by 3^rd postoperative week and remaining 2 cases showed poor functional limb usage. The mean time for destabilization was 45 days in humerus and tebia, 48 days in femur, and 40 days in radius. Major complications were found in 6 cases. Pin loosening and pin migration in two cases each of femur fracture and pin tract discharges in two cases of bilateral radius-ulna fractures were noted. Bony union was observed in one case of humerus, five cases of radius, four cases of femur and six cases of tibia.