Treatment of Long Bone Fractures with External Skeletal Fixator in Cats and Dogs

Objective: This study aims to follow up on the recovery of the results of the treatment with external skeletal fixator of the long bone fractures, which are frequently encountered in veterinary orthopedics because of various traumas in cats and dogs, with clinical and radiological evaluations at 0, 10, 30, and 45 days after from treatment. Materials and Methods: Totally of 10 animals (7 cats and 3 dogs) of different species, breeds, sexes, and age groups, who were diagnosed with long bone fractures formed the study material. The causes of the formation of fracture were determined as 50% traffic accidents, 40% falling from a height, 10% unknown reasons. Result: According to the data based on radiological scoring obtained on the 45th day, it was found that 40% of the cases were "disappearance of the fracture line, healing" (score = 5), 40% of the cases were "pronounced callus, no visibility of the fracture line" (score = 4), and 20% of the cases were "minimal callus formation" (score = 2). Conclusion: According to the clinical and radiological data obtained from the study, it was concluded that external skeletal fixators, which are one of the biological osteosynthesis methods, could be easily used for the treatment of long bone fractures in cats and dogs.