Clinical Experience of Interlocking Nail Stabilization of Long Bone Fractures in Dogs – A Retrospective Study of 26 Cases

ABST RACT The aim of the study is to report the clinical and radiographic outcome after use of an interlocking nail (ILN) for stabilization of long bone fractures in dogs. Twenty-six dogs were evaluated. There were ten femoral fractures, 12 tibial fractures and four humeral fractures. The equipment was manufactured by Orthovet (Orthovet, Izmir, Turkey). Three ILN lengths with three different diameters (4, 6 and 8 mm) were used. Each ILN had a trocar tip on one end and four screw holes (two distal and two proximal). Ten fractures (four femoral, five tibial, one humeral) were associated with other orthopedic problems. Nine (39.1%) patients had aseptic nonunion and malunion fractures. A static fixation mode was used for nine fractures and a dynamic fixation mode was used in 17 (65.3%). The surgical time recorded was 45-52 minutes. Three dogs had a major complication requiring surgical intervention. At 6 months, the functional outcome was excellent in 15 (57.6%) animals, good in seven (26.9%), fair in three (11.5%), and poor in one (3.8). In conclusion, the use of ILNs to repair diaphyseal fractures of the femur, tibia, and humerus in dogs resulted in a good or excellent functional outcome in most patients.