STUDIES ON SOME COMPLICATIONS OF LONG BONE FRACTURES REPAIRS IN DOGS

Abstract

Six hundred and thirty one dogs with long bone fractures were treated at the clinics faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo and kafrelsheikh Universities, during the period from January 1998 to January 2009. Out of 631 cases 90 cases showed 273 different types of complications. These complications were classified into two main types: Those from improper management (47.6%) which included fracture disease (21%) and implant failure (26.6%). While the other type of complications were referred to fracture healing (52.4%) which included delayed-union (16.1%), non-union (8.8%), mal-union (6.2%), hypertrophic callus (15.3%) and osteomyelitis (6%). The incidence of complications were studied and discussed in relation to the age, the weight of the animal, type & state of fracture, concurrent soft tissue injuries, type of reduction and the method or methods of fixation. The recorded complication were assessed radio-graphically and some of them undergone to surgical management. The obtained results showed that the incidence of complications was very high in humeral (29.3%) and femoral (35.2%) fractures particularly in young and senile ages, heavy weight dogs, long standing old fractures, compound comminuted fractures associated with severe concurrent soft tissue injuries and those fractures fixed via external cooptation or external skeletal fixation (ESF) and in some fractures fixed by internal fixation. Studies On Some Complications Of Long Bone Fractures … Shaaban Gadallah et al., 315 Treatment options gave satisfactory results in terms of rapid return to full limb function in some cases of slight malalignment, hypertropic callus, delayed union, joint stiffness with mild arthrosis and early stage of muscle atrophy. However unsatisfactory results were obtained in terms of severe lameness in case of long standing old fractures, joint stiffness with severe arthrosis, late stage of muscle atrophy, recurrent implant failure, non union and osteomyelitis. The present study emphasized on the importance of the age, weight, type of fractured bone, type of fracture, state of fracture, concurrent soft tissue injuries, type of reduction and the method or methods of fixation. All these factors collectively should be taken in consideration during long bone fracture management. Otherwise if one of these factors is neglected single or multiple complications will take place.