Incidences of pelvic limb fractures in dogs

Introduction (1.88 %), Dachshund (1.25%), Dalmatian (1.04 %) and others (2 %). The highest incidence of the pelvic limb Fracture of the long bone is a commonly fracture in non-descript dogs observed in the present encountered orthopaedic problem in canine practice. study might be due to their free roaming habit which Understanding the different types of fracture and their make them more vulnerable to road accident (Maala incidence will be helpful to develop improved and Celo, 1975). techniques of fracture fixation in dogs (Aithal et al., Young dogs below six months were most 1999). Pelvic limb fractures are due to high energy commonly affected (46.02%). This could be due to their trauma and can result in both life threatening injuries, active, playful and are not accustomed to cope with the severe and permanent disability (Kolata et al., 1974). risks of environment (Kolata et al., 1974). Young dogs This retrospective study was undertaken to analyse the gets skeletal maturity between 5 months (toy breeds) pelvic limb fractures in dogs. and 18 months (giant breeds) through a very rapid, Materials and Methods biphasic growth rate. During the initial growth phase, both structural and material properties of immature A review of clinical cases of pelvic limb fracture bone are considerably different from those of adult recorded in the Radiology Unit of Madras Veterinary bone and are characterized by lower strength, and College, from April 2007-May 2009 was reported in this stiffness, as well as lower yield stress and elastic study. All the available records and radiographs were modulus (Torzilli, 1981). Male dogs were affected more screened and the information regarding the incidence (61.50 percent) than female dogs in all the age groups. and different types of fractures were tabulated. Aggressive nature and wandering habits of the male Results and Discussion dogs make them more prone to accidents and fractures (Kolata et al., 1974) A total of 478 cases of pelvic fractures were Bone wise distribution of fractures of the pelvic recorded during the period of this study. The results of limbs revealed that the incidence was highest in femur the present study showed that the pelvic limb fractures (47.48 %) followed by tibia and fibula (42.67 %), pelvis were more common in non-descript dogs (47.48 %) (5.02 %) and others (4.81%). These findings are in followed by spitz (20.08 %), Alsatian (7.11%), Labrador accordance with that of Balagopalan et al., (1995). (5.85%), Doberman Pinscher (4.81%), Great Dane Whereas Johnson et al., (1998) reported femur (3.34%), Pomeranian (2.92%), Boxer (2.09%), Pug Abstract