Sherman et al: Linear external skeletal fixation applied in minimally invasive fashion for stabilization of nonarticular tibial fractures in dogs and cats
Veterinary Surgery 2, 2023

🔍 Key Findings

• 55 cases (49 dogs, 6 cats) with nonarticular tibial fractures were treated using linear ESF with a minimally invasive approach
• All fractures achieved radiographic union; no unacceptable outcomes were reported
• 40% complication rate, mostly minor (82%), primarily pin-tract morbidity; major complications (7%) included osteomyelitis and refracture
• Open fractures had significantly more major complications than closed ones (P = .019)
• Use of intraoperative imaging (72% cases) reduced surgery time but did not improve alignment (P > .05)
• Median surgery time: 74 min with imaging vs. 100 min without (P = .046)
• TPA was lower than normal in both dogs and cats, but did not correlate with poor outcomes
• 62% had full clinical recovery, and 38% had acceptable outcomes at fixator removal