Evaluation of haemato-biochemical parameters for assessment of fracture healing in dogs

Abstract

Biochemical parameters like serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, C-reactive protein and alkaline phosphatase were evaluated during fracture healing in 6 dogs with distal femoral diaphyseal fractures, which were stabilized with String of pearls (SOP) locking plates. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference (P<0.01) in serum calcium, serum alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein values in different stages of postoperative intervals. There was no significant variation in serum phosphorus level post-operatively and the values were within the normal range Keywords: Serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, C-reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase, fracture, dogs Introduction Clinical examination and radiological assessment are the cornerstone of fracture union. Other approaches for the clinical evaluation of bone status include study of bone mineral density (BMD), Radionucleotide scan, bone histomorphometry and biochemical markers. While X-ray, BMD and radionucleotide scan provide information primarily about the bone macrostructure, integrity, quantity and ultimate outcome of healing, only biochemical markers provide a dynamic picture about the underlying process of bone resorption including its turnover, pathogenesis and can differentiate between normal and delayed healing. Furthermore they can be used to monitor short term effects of therapy and provide early indication of any impairment of healing process. Assay procedures of the biochemical markers are inexpensive and can be repeated several times in a single patient. Biochemical markers of bone turnover are generally divided into two subclasses: bone resorption and bone formation markers. The bone resorption markers are related to osteoclast resorption of matrix and include tartarate resistant acid phosphatase and degradation products of type I collagen in protein matrix especially hydroxyproline, telopeptides etc. Bone formation markers are osteocalcin and bone specific alkaline phosphatase produced from osteoblasts (Delmas, 1995) [2]. C-reactive protein is an acute phase reactant, a protein made by the liver and released into the blood within a few hours after tissue injury, the start of an infection, or other cause of inflammation (Scherer et al., 2001) [9]. The present study was carried out to assess the degree of bone formation and pain postoperatively using serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and Creative protein estimation respectively after stabilizing the distal femoral diaphyseal fractures with String of pearls (SOP) locking plates in dogs