Ramsey et al: Comparison of tibial alignment following bent or straight interlocking nail fixation for dogs with diaphyseal tibial fractures
Veterinary Surgery 8, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Straight interlocking nails (sILN) resulted in a significantly higher postoperative TPA compared with the contralateral limb (+5°), whereas bent nails (bILN) increased TPA by only +1°.
  • Bent interlocking nails achieved closer-to-anatomic tibial plateau alignment than straight nails (p < .0001).
  • Both techniques resulted in mild valgus malalignment (~2°) compared with the contralateral limb, but this was not clinically significant.
  • No significant differences in medial mechanical proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) were detected between groups.
  • Medullary canal fill was higher with bent nails (by ~6.6%), suggesting improved coaxial nail placement.
  • Missed bolt hole frequency did not differ between straight and bent nail techniques.
  • Complication rates were very low, with only one clinically relevant malalignment reported in the bent nail group.
  • Despite higher TPA in the straight nail group, no increased incidence of CCL rupture was identified during follow-up.

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Ramsey et al: Comparison of tibial alignment following bent or straight interlocking nail fixation for dogs with diaphyseal tibial fractures
Veterinary Surgery 8, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Straight interlocking nails (sILN) resulted in a significantly higher postoperative TPA compared with the contralateral limb (+5°), whereas bent nails (bILN) increased TPA by only +1°.
  • Bent interlocking nails achieved closer-to-anatomic tibial plateau alignment than straight nails (p < .0001).
  • Both techniques resulted in mild valgus malalignment (~2°) compared with the contralateral limb, but this was not clinically significant.
  • No significant differences in medial mechanical proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) were detected between groups.
  • Medullary canal fill was higher with bent nails (by ~6.6%), suggesting improved coaxial nail placement.
  • Missed bolt hole frequency did not differ between straight and bent nail techniques.
  • Complication rates were very low, with only one clinically relevant malalignment reported in the bent nail group.
  • Despite higher TPA in the straight nail group, no increased incidence of CCL rupture was identified during follow-up.

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Ramsey 2025 et al., on tibial alignment, what effect did bent interlocking nails have on medullary canal fill?

A. It was lower than straight nails
B. It was unchanged
C. It was higher by approximately 6.6%
D. It exceeded 95% in all cases
E. It was clinically irrelevant

Answer: It was higher by approximately 6.6%

Explanation: The bILN group demonstrated significantly greater medullary canal fill compared with the sILN group.

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