Corrective osteotomy for procurvatum deformity caused by distal femoral physeal fracture malunion stabilised with String‐of‐Pearls locking plates: results in two dogs and a review of the literature

Abstract

This report describes the treatment of severe procurvatum because of distal femoral physeal fracture malunion in two skeletally immature dogs. Both dogs presented with severe right hindlimb lameness and markedly reduced stifle extension at less than 5 months of age. Severe distal femoral procurvatum and mild-to-moderate femoral shortening secondary to distal femoral physeal fracture malunion were evident on radiographs. The sagittal plane deformities were addressed with a caudal opening-wedge osteotomy in one dog and cranial closing wedge ostectomy in the other dog. String-of-Pearls locking plates were used to stabilise the osteotomies. Functional stifle extension range of motion and femoral length were improved post surgery in both dogs. Explantation of the plates was required in both dogs because of local soft tissue irritation. Both dogs had excellent outcomes based on subjective and objective measures (pressure sensitive walkway, force platform analysis) when assessed at skeletal maturity. Corrective osteotomy stabilised with String-of-Pearls locking plates is a viable treatment option for improving limb function in dogs with severe procurvatum deformities caused by distal femoral physeal fracture malunion.