Treatment of long bone fractures in dogs with locked Kuntscher nail

In the present study the aim was to evaluate the clinical and radiographical results of locked Kuntscher pin therapy of long bone fractures. The animal material of the study constituted a total of 16 dogs, from various breed, age and of both sexes, with a diagnosis of diaphiser fracture of femur and tibia. All cases were pre-medicated with xylazine-hydrochloride at a deserate of 0.045 mg/ kg s.c. (subcutaneous) and then were under general ansthesia within isoflurane Locked Kuntscher nail and locked cortical allografts were determined by use of calculations on radiagraphs. In enrolled dogs the extremity that should be operated, were prepared by use of asepsia-antisepsia regulations. In open and infected fractures, the lesional area was clipped within antiseptic and antibacterial solutions. Following lateral surgical approach on was used, expotion of femur and tibia fracture lines, encision were performed on cranio-lateral and medial side of corpus tibia, respectively. Incision of subcutaneous connective tissue and fascia, were followed by dissection of significant muscle groups located on the femur and tibia. Interlocking nail was placed in retrograde direction in all cases. Interlocking nails were placed to the medulla via cortical allografts. Muscle, subcutaneous connective tissue, fascia and skin were surgically closed by appropriate method. Following clinical operation of dogs, radiographical examination and lameness scores were recoided from weeks 1 to 4. In case 1 radiological examination revealed callus tissue density on post op day 7, due to insufficient post operative management and lameness score was 4. In case 7, during intra-operative application, nail was broken after protruding medulla and lameness score was 1. In case 11 intraoperative cortical nails were passed through nail's distal hole located at distal fragments and lameness score was 1. In case 5, nail was broken in distal part following 15 days post-operatively and lameness score was 1 on post-op 15 days. In case 13 following operation callus formation was evident on day 1 and lameness score was 2, where as on post-op day 21 fracture line was nearly closing and lameness score was 1, and on day 30 post-op callus was normally distributed and lameness score was 1.