Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with shattered heel bone fixed using bone-to-tendon plate
By Evers, Johanna S & Kim, Stanley E·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2022·University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of a bone-to-tendon plate to stabilize a comminuted calcaneus fracture in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old male neutered mixed-breed dog was brought in with a severe fracture in his left heel bone, likely caused by a gunshot wound. To stabilize the fracture, the veterinarian used special plates that connected the bone to a tendon, along with bone grafts to help healing. After 17 weeks, the fracture showed signs of healing, but the plates were removed later due to an infection. By 36 weeks post-surgery, the dog had fully recovered and was back to normal activities without any limping.
People also search for: dog heel bone fracture treatment · dog surgery recovery time · dog infection after surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report the use of an ancillary plate spanning from the calcaneus to the common calcaneal tendon to stabilize a comminuted fracture in a dog. STUDY DESIGN: Case report ANIMALS: Two year old male neutered mix-breed dog. METHODS: The dog presented for a grade IIIa open highly comminuted fracture of the shaft and tuber of the left calcaneus from a suspected gunshot wound. Plantar and lateral locking plates were applied to the calcaneus, with the lateral plate extending proximally and sutured directly to the common calcaneal tendon. Autogenous cancellous and allogenic corticocancellous bone grafts were placed into the fracture site, and a human placental matrix was injected after closure. A lateral tarsal splint was applied for 17 weeks postoperatively. The lateral bone-to-tendon plate was replaced with a smaller lateral plate spanning only the calcaneus 9 weeks after the initial surgery. RESULTS: Radiographic union was documented at 17 weeks. At 25 weeks, both plates were removed due to suspected implant associated infection. At the final follow-up assessment, 36 weeks after initial surgery, the dog had returned to normal function with no observable lameness. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of the common calcaneal tendon as a proximal segment for plate fixation led to successful union of a highly comminuted calcaneal fracture.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35080252/