Six hundred and thirty one dogs with long bone fractures were treated
at the clinics faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo and kafrelsheikh
Universities, during the period from January 1998 to January 2009.
Out of 631 cases 90 cases showed 273 different types of complications.
These complications were classified into two main types: Those from
improper management (47.6%) which included fracture disease (21%)
and implant failure (26.6%). While the other type of complications
were referred to fracture healing (52.4%) which included delayedunion
(16.1%), non-union (8.8%), mal-union (6.2%), hypertrophic
callus (15.3%) and osteomyelitis (6%). The incidence of complications
were studied and discussed in relation to the age, the weight of the
animal, type & state of fracture, concurrent soft tissue injuries, type of
reduction and the method or methods of fixation. The recorded
complication were assessed radio-graphically and some of them
undergone to surgical management.
The obtained results showed that the incidence of complications was
very high in humeral (29.3%) and femoral (35.2%) fractures particularly
in young and senile ages, heavy weight dogs, long standing old fractures,
compound comminuted fractures associated with severe concurrent
soft tissue injuries and those fractures fixed via external cooptation or
external skeletal fixation (ESF) and in some fractures fixed by internal
fixation. Treatment options gave satisfactory results in terms of rapid return to
full limb function in some cases of slight malalignment, hypertropic
callus, delayed union, joint stiffness with mild arthrosis and early
stage of muscle atrophy. However unsatisfactory results were obtained in
terms of severe lameness in case of long standing old fractures, joint
stiffness with severe arthrosis, late stage of muscle atrophy, recurrent
implant failure, non union and osteomyelitis.
The present study emphasized on the importance of the age, weight,
type of fractured bone, type of fracture, state of fracture, concurrent
soft tissue injuries, type of reduction and the method or methods of
fixation. All these factors collectively should be taken in consideration
during long bone fracture management. Otherwise if one of these
factors is neglected single or multiple complications will take place.