Use of a medial bone plate for repair of radius and ulna fractures in dogs and cats: a report of 22 cases.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the technique of medial bone plating in the repair of radius fractures in dogs and cats.

STUDY

DESIGN

A retrospective study was made of patients diagnosed with fractures of the radius that were stabilized by application of a bone plate to the medial side of the bone.

ANIMAL POPULATION: Sixteen client-owned dogs and 4 client-owned cats. The animals' ages varied from 5 months to 8 years, and their weight varied from 1.3 to 49 kgs.

METHODS

Animals were evaluated using radiography or client assessment, or both.

RESULTS

Medical plate application was technically easier to do than cranial plate application, the technique avoided the extensor tendons, and permitted greater versatility in the selection of smaller plates for the fixation of distal radius fractures. All fractures repaired by this method healed with no postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Medial plate application may be used for osteosynthesis of distal or middiaphyseal radius fractures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the use of this technique in morphologically complex fractures. In patients with fractures of the proximal radius, cranial plate application is considered more appropriate.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Medial plating of radial fractures has significant advantages compared with conventional plate application; it provides the surgeon with an alternative method of fixation for selected radius fractures in dogs and cats.