Repair of flail chest using interfragmentary wiring and stability augmentation with basket-weave fashion sutures in a toy breed dog: a case report

We report here the clinical presentation and successful surgical management of flail chest caused by bite wounds in a toy breed dog. Surgery was decided on, based on physical, radiographic and computed tomography (CT) examination findings which included thorax deformity, inward displacement of the end of a fractured rib and suspected lung injuries. Interfragmentary wiring, basket-weave fashion sutures and latissimus dorsi flap for thoracic wall reconstruction were performed to correct the flail chest and augment the thoracic wall stability. There was no evidence of respiratory distress 16 months post-operatively. This is the first case report describing detailed clinical information together with computed tomography evaluation and a successful surgical procedure to correct flail chest in a toy breed dog using interfragmentary wiring and basket-weave fashion sutures.