Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Stable repair of dog humeral condyle fractures with buried screws
By Chevalier, Laura et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2026·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Buried transcondylar locking screws ensure stable fixation and favorable owner-reported outcomes in canine humeral condylar fractures.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with a humeral condylar fracture, which is a break in the elbow area of the upper arm bone, was treated using a buried transcondylar locking screw. Out of 26 dogs treated with this method, many showed good healing, with half achieving full recovery within about six weeks. While there were some complications, including screw loosening, most dogs regained good to excellent mobility over time. This technique appears to provide stable support for healing fractures with minimal issues, making it a promising option for similar injuries.
People also search for: dog elbow fracture treatment · humeral condylar fracture recovery · buried transcondylar screw for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the use, complications, and long-term outcomes of a buried transcondylar locking screw for the management of humeral condylar fractures in dogs. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively assessed (October 2013 to April 2024) for signalment, fracture configuration, stabilization, complications, and functional outcomes. Screw size relative to condyle height was assessed radiographically. Long-term outcomes were evaluated through the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs score and Moores' questionnaire. RESULTS: 26 dogs were included: 14 with fracture of lateral part and 1 with fracture of the medial part of the humeral condyle, and 11 with T-or Y-shaped (T/Y) fractures. Twenty-six transcondylar screws were placed, with ancillary fixations including plating and/or Kirschner wiring. The median screw-to-condyle height ratio was 0.338. Of the 20 dogs with follow-up, 10 achieved full bone healing, 9 were healing, and 1 had not healed by a median of 43 days. The complication rate was 55%. Five major type I, 2 major type II, and 4 minor complications were recorded. Among the complications, only 1 was directly associated with the transcondylar screw and consisted of screw loosening. Long-term follow-up (range, 356 to 3,739 days) in 15 humeral condylar fractures showed a median Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs score of 1, with most dogs regaining good to excellent mobility. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study supported the use of a buried transcondylar locking screw for the management of humeral condylar fractures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This method provides stable fixation with minimal specific complications, yielding favorable long-term outcomes based on owner questionnaires.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41056965/