Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgical repair outcomes for dogs with femur fractures and ligament
By Frydman, G H et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2014·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Treatment of bicondylar femoral fractures complicated by concurrent ligament or tendon injuries in four dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Four dogs with serious leg injuries, specifically bicondylar femoral fractures (breaks in the thigh bone near the knee), were treated surgically after also suffering ligament or tendon injuries. The dogs underwent surgery to fix the fractures using screws and plates, and two of them also had their torn ligaments repaired. After the surgery, all four dogs showed good to excellent recovery, with their fractures healing well, although some developed arthritis in the knee joint. Owners reported high satisfaction with their pets' quality of life after treatment.
People also search for: dog leg fracture treatment · dog knee ligament injury surgery · recovery from dog femur fracture
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Retrospective case series describing the surgical treatment and outcome in dogs with bicondylar femoral fractures complicated by ligament or tendon injuries. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for three immature and one mature dog with traumatic bicondylar fractures of the distal femur and concurrent ligament or tendon injury treated surgically. Data retrieved included physical examination, imaging, and treatment. Long-term follow-up and return to function was assessed by owner feedback, physical examination, radiology, and force plate analysis. The immediate, four-week, and two-year postoperative outcomes were described. RESULTS: All four dogs were presented with injuries to either the cranial or caudal cruciate ligament. Only two dogs underwent surgical repair of the caudal cruciate ligament. Anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation of the distal femoral fractures was performed using a combination of lag screws, Kirschner wires, and bone plates. At the long-term follow-up, all cases had good to excellent return to function, as assessed by force plate analysis and owner assessment of quality of life and satisfaction. Radiographs revealed evidence of complete fracture healing, with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the stifle. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Bicondylar femoral fractures can be associated with ligament or tendon injuries. Anatomical reduction and internal fixation of bicondylar femoral fractures is recommended and may offer a good to excellent return function, with or without repair of associated caudal cruciate ligament injuries.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24991936/