Pancarpal and partial carpal arthrodesis with 3 locking compression plates in 6 horses

Abstract

The use of 3 short LCP should be considered as a strategy to facilitate pancarpal or partial carpal arthrodesis by providing superior stability without placement of implants in the diaphysis of the radius and third metacarpus.

Congenital Ulnar Carpal Bone Luxation in a Miniature Donkey Treated by Pancarpal Arthrodesis

“…This approach has recently been developed in horses to avoid placement of implants in the radial and metacarpal diaphyses, limiting the risk of catastrophic fracture. 10 The longest plate was used on the tension side of this carpus, namely its medial aspect, whereas the lateral plate had more of a buttress function. 11,12 Locking head screws were used at both plate ends.…”

“…It provided us with a comfortable surgical access for placing the dorsolateral and dorsomedial plates owing to judicious tissue retraction, and closure of the skin over the two plates was not an issue, as previously observed. 7 Minimal invasive insertion of the LCPs, as recently described, 10,13 was contemplated but an open approach was decided to better assess the frontal and rotational alignment of the limb before implants positioning. An open approach would also have allowed us to perform a wedge resection of the distomedial radius, had it been necessary.…”

“…An open approach would also have allowed us to perform a wedge resection of the distomedial radius, had it been necessary. 5,10 As much articular cartilage as possible was removed, but the caudally displaced ulnar carpal bone was difficult to access despite joint flexion. Similarly, because of the small size of the bones, perfect contouring of the LCPs was difficult and a gap of 6 mm remained between the dorsomedial plate and the dorsal aspect of the radial carpal bone.…”

Internal fixation of a complete ventral luxation of the dens axis in an American quarter horse yearling

“…The application of this type of implant has also been described for the surgical treatment of physeal fractures of the proximal tibia in foals . The biomechanical properties of the T‐LCP are promising, and additional research including different areas of application in horses is warranted …”

“…23 The biomechanical properties of the T-LCP are promising, and additional research including different areas of application in horses is warranted. 6,24,25 Seventy-three percent of the total axial rotation of the cervical spine occurs between the first and second cervical vertebrae. 26 To provide additional rotational and also dorsal stability, four 5.5-mm cortical screws were placed in lag fashion across the articular surface of the axis and the atlas.…”