Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tibial alignment after bent vs straight nail repair in dogs with leg
By Ramsey, Harrison D et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2025·The University of Florida, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparison of tibial alignment following bent or straight interlocking nail fixation for dogs with diaphyseal tibial fractures.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 46 dogs with broken leg bones (tibial fractures) were treated with either bent or straight metal rods to help their bones heal. After surgery, the dogs with straight rods had a slightly higher angle in their leg alignment compared to their other leg, while those with bent rods had a smaller difference. Most dogs healed well, with only one dog experiencing a complication related to the bent rod. Overall, both methods helped improve leg alignment, but the straight rods may need more study to understand their effects better.
People also search for: dog broken leg treatment · tibial fracture surgery in dogs · bent vs straight rod for dog leg fracture
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the change in tibial alignment parameters and complications between bent and straight interlocking nail (ILN) fixation of diaphyseal tibial fractures in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: A total of 46 dogs with trauma-induced diaphyseal tibial fractures. METHODS: Medical records of dogs with diaphyseal tibial fractures were compiled from 2014 to 2024 and categorized into bent (bILN, n = 27) and straight (sILN, n = 19) ILN groups. Tibial plateau angle (TPA), coronal angulation (CA), and medial mechanical proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) were calculated and compared with the contralateral limb. Medullary canal fill (MCF) was calculated and compared between groups. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Postoperative TPA in the affected limb was 5° higher than in the contralateral limb in the sILN group and 1° higher in the bILN group (p < .0001, p < .0377). Postoperative affected tibias in both groups were in 2° more valgus than their contralateral limb (p < .0059, p < .0301). No differences in mMPTA were noted. The MCF was 6.6% higher in the bILN group than the sILN group (p < .0163). Only one dog in the study developed a complication: moderate ILN bending and valgus. This dog was in the bILN group. CONCLUSION: The increased TPA of the sILN group could be attributed to the tibia's natural recurvatum, which a sILN may not fully accommodate. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: While superior tibial alignment was achieved with the bILN, the detrimental effects of a higher TPA with use of a sILN need further investigation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40682365/