Publication date
Gordon Brown, Stephen Kalff, Toby J. Gemmill, Jonathon Pink, Bill Oxley, W. Malcolm McKee, Stephen P Clarke
Highly Comminuted, Articular Fractures of the Distal Antebrachium Managed by Pancarpal Arthrodesis in 8 Dogs
Objective
To describe the surgical management by pancarpal arthrodesis for highly comminuted articular fractures of the distal antebrachium in 8 dogs.
Methods
Medical records (2001–2014) of dogs with antebrachial fractures were reviewed and dogs with highly comminuted distal antebrachial fractures were identified. The nature of the injury, surgical management by pancarpal arthrodesis, outcome, and complications were recorded.
Results
Nine fractures occurred in 8 dogs. Seven dogs were ex-racing greyhounds (8 fractures) and of these, 6/7 dogs had fractures of the right thoracic limb. Compared with the hospital population of dogs with antebrachial fractures, greyhounds were overrepresented for the antebrachial injury (odds ratio 117, 95% confidence interval 13– 1022). Five dogs sustained injury during exertional exercise or with relatively minor trauma. Submitted bone samples (n¼4) showed no evidence of underlying neoplasia. Mean followup was 15.5 months with 11 complications recorded in 7/8 dogs, including 1 catastrophic, 5 major, and 5 minor complications. Pancarpal arthrodesis allowed a full functional outcome in 3 dogs and an acceptable outcome in 3.