Plate-Rod Technique for Femur Fracture Repair in Dogs: A Report of 31 Cases

Abstract

Study was conducted on 31 femur fractures repaired with plate rod technique in dogs. Both simple and comminuted diaphyseal fractures of young and adult dogs of age ranging from 5 months to 72 months and weighing between above 10kgs to 35kgs were included in the study. Locking plates with the intramedullary rods (IMR) of 30-40% diameter of medullary cavity were used for platerod construct (PRC). Suitable sizes of the LCPs were selected based on preoperative orthogonal radiographs and body weight of the dogs. Minimum two bicortical screws were applied in each fracture fragment. Most of the animals showed weight bearing on 10-15 days post surgery and visible callus formation was also observed radio-graphically at 4-5th postoperative weeks. Complications like pin migration (4), seroma formation (5), plastic deformation of implant (2) and soft tissue irritation (9) were observed. From results we concluded that plate rod technique yield excellent results for the management of femoral fracture repair in dogs.