A comparative study on repair of canine femoral fractures using titanium and stainless steel intramedullary interlocking nail

The present comparative clinical study in twelve dogs age ranged from 5 to 24 months. Six were male and six were female, among them 4 Mongrels (33.33%), two Labrador retrievers (16.6%), one each of Golden retriever (8.3%), German shepherd (8.3%), Mudhol hound (8.3%), Saint bernard (8.3%), Siberian husky (8.3%), and Pomeranian (8.3%). The body weight ranges from 11 to 42 kg. 50% of dogs had femur fractures due to automobile accidents, 33.33% had due to slipping on the floor, fallen from height (8.33%), fight between dogs (8.33%), and wild animal attack (8.33%). Lameness grading in the two groups pre-operatively showed grade V lameness. After surgical stabilization in group I (stainless steel IILN) the mean lameness grading score on immediate post operative day, 15^th , 30^th, 60^th, and 90^th post operative days were 3.16±1.2, 2.1±1.2, 1.6±6.2, 1.5±2.3, and 1.3±3.1 respectively. This showed gradual reduction in lameness grading score. In group II (Titanium IILN), the mean lameness grading score on immediate post operative day, 15^th, 30^th, 60^th, and 90^th post operative days are 2.8±3.3, 1.3±3.2, 1.16±2.6, 1.16±2.6 and 1.16±2.6 respectively. In the group II dogs, earlier weight bearing and normal limb function were recorded with a mean of 3.5±2.5 days in compared to group I having a mean of 6.0±2.5 days, thus lameness grading was superior in titanium group. The fracture healing by negligible callus in 10 dogs, two dogs with secondary callus formation. Radiological scoring in the two groups showed complete radiographic healing from 60^th day to 90^th day post-operatively without any disturbance in apposition, alignment, angulation and apparatus.