Fixation of humeral intercondylar fractures using a lateral plate in 14 dogs supported by finite element analysis of repair

• Published in: Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology Vol. 20; no. 4; pp. 285 - 290
• Main Authors: McCartney, W.T, Comiskey, D.P, MacDonald, B, Garvan, C.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Animals; Bone Plates - veterinary; Dogs - injuries; Dogs - surgery; Female; Finite Element Analysis; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary - veterinary; Fracture Healing; Humeral Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Humeral Fractures - surgery; Humeral Fractures - veterinary; Male; Prospective Studies; Radiography; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0932-0814; 2567-6911
• DOI: 10.1160/VCOT-07-01-0002

Fourteen Spaniels that presented with an intercondylar fracture of the distal humerus were managed using a lateral plate and an additional pin in twelve cases. Fixation of the fracture was achieved using a plate applied laterally which incorporated the transcondylar lag screw in the most distal hole. Of the 14 cases, two had poor results, one of which was a bilateral case, whilst the remaining 12 cases had good or very good results with only occasional stiffness or lameness. Finite element (FE) modelling of a distal humerus was generated, and loading of fracture repairs using a lateral plate and caudal plate was completed in a comparative study to determine which fixation method resisted micro-motion most effectively. Finite element analysis revealed that the lateral plate fixation provided significantly more resistance to micro movement at the fracture site that the caudal plate fixation, with 40% more micro-motion in the latter.