Clinical evaluation of tie-in configuration and intramedullary pinning for stabilization of femoral fractures in dogs

Clinical assessment of fracture repair using intramedullary pinning and tie-in configuration technique was carried out in 12 clinical cases of diaphyseal femoral fractures in dogs. The dogs were randomly divided into 2 groups of 6 animals each. In group I, intramedullary pinning was carried out whereas in group II, tie-in configuration technique was carried out. Serosanguinous discharge was noted at entry points in all the dogs of group II. All the dogs showed sever pain up to the 2^nd postoperative day which subsided by 14^th postoperative day in dogs of group I whereas it was still evident in dogs of group II. The earlier return to the functional usage of the limb was observed in dogs of group II as compared to those of group I. Most of the dogs of group I when observed postoperatively had mal-alignment either in the form of impacted fracture fragments or rotation of the distal fragment. Good postoperative alignment was observed in most of the dogs of group II throughout the study, in spite of loosening of transfixation pin in 3 of the 6 dogs.