34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Greyhounds’ long bones are 1.5–2.4 times stiffer, are more brittle, can fracture at lower energy levels, and have a higher incidence of fracture comminution. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare fracture healing and complication rates of antebrachial and tibio-crural fractures treated with single and dual plate fixation in sighthounds.

Methods:

Medical records of sighthounds that underwent radius-ulna and tibio-crural fracture repair between January 2016 and December 2022 were reviewed. Dogs were allocated to single plate (SP) or dual plate fixation group (DP). Italian Greyhounds were excluded from this study. Signalment, fracture configuration, fixation features, hospitalisation duration, healing grading, and complications were assessed and compared between the two groups. Only cases with adequate clinical and radiographic follow-up to document clinical union were included.

Results:

A total of 49 fractures (48 dogs) met the inclusion criteria. 37 radius-ulna fractures (SP:23; DP:14) and 12 tibio-crural fractures (SP:7; DP:5) were reviewed. Radiographic fracture healing score was higher in both radius-ulna and tibio-crural fractures treated with dual plate at the time of the last radiographic assessment (days) (SP:45; DP:60). Infection rate was higher in the SP group for radius-ulna fractures (SP:43.5%; DP:28.6%) and in the DP group for tibio-crural fractures (SP:0%; DP:40%). Implant failure was recorded only for radius-ulna fractures (SP:8.7%; DP:14.3%). Hospitalisation duration was longer in DP group for tibio-crural fractures.

Conclusions:

Structural factors inherent to the breed can affect the fracture healing. Radius-ulna and tibio-crural fractures treated with dual plate heal better than single plate fixation.