Lin et al: Does the Craniolateral Approach Provide Better Exposure to the Radius than the Craniomedial Approach for Internal Fracture Fixation in Dogs?
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 3, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

• Craniolateral approach (CLA) exposed significantly more radial surface area than craniomedial approach (CMA) (19.4 cm² vs. 13.8 cm²; p = 0.01).
• Proximal width of exposure was greater in CLA, especially at 12.5% length (P2 level, p = 0.016), aiding plate placement.
• No significant difference in exposed bone length between approaches.
• CLA avoided major neurovascular structures, making dissection cleaner and safer proximally.
• CMA consistently encountered median nerve/artery/vein, complicating proximal exposure.
• CLA allowed better access to proximal radius for locking plate application, which may benefit MIPO techniques.
• CLA also enables ulna fixation via the same incision, whereas CMA requires a separate skin incision.
• Anatomical tilt of the proximal cranial surface favored CLA, requiring less plate contouring than CMA for proper fit.