Evaluation of end threaded intramedullary pinning for the stabilization of distal diaphyseal and supracondylar fractures in dogs

The present study included 15 dogs (with 16 fractures) suffering from supracondylar (n=7) and distal third fractures (n=9) of femur (n=14), or fractures of tibia (n=1) and humerus (n=1). The mean age and body weight of affected dogs was 17.01±7.19 month and 13.61±1.79 kg, respectively. The mean length of the distal fragment was 2.90±0.32 cm (range 1.57–5.29 cm). In all the dogs, fracture fixation was done with single negatively threaded pin (8–13 threads). The mean ratio of the mean diameter of pins (5.12±0.26 cm) to width of medullary cavity at isthmus (9.31±0.68 cm) was 0.64±0.03. Majority of the pins (n=12) were found to be stable on long term follow up and fracture union occurred uneventfully. Two cases lost to follow up while two had implant related complications. No case demonstrated proximal migration of the pin. From the present study it was concluded that negatively threaded portion of the end threaded pins provide adequate holding strength and can be recommended as an alternative method for the management of distal diaphyseal and supracondylar fractures of long bones in dogs.