Epidemiological Analysis of Avulsion Fractures in Dogs

Alyssa M Matos Cruz,Mizuki Tomihari,Po-Yen Chou,Mitsunori Kayano,Kei Hayashi,Amy S Kapatkin,Sun Young Kim

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1713123

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study aimed to analyse the epidemiological data of canine appendicular avulsion fractures from three academic veterinary hospitals in the United States. Study Design A total of 114 avulsion fractures that presented to three study centres (teaching hospitals in New York, California, and Michigan) between 2008 and 2018 were analysed for avulsion type, breed, sex, body weight, age and affected side. Results The mean age for avulsion fractures was 1.6 years (±2.3 standard deviation), and side and sex were comparable (53% females and 54% left sided, only 2% bilateral). Tibial tuberosity fracture was the most common type, comprising 54% of all avulsion fractures, significantly more prevalent in younger and lighter dogs (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in avulsion type, breed, sex, weight, age and affected side among three study centres (p = 0.66). Conclusion The most common avulsion fractures were tibial tuberosity fractures, which tend to occur in young, small dogs. There is no sex or side predilection for avulsion fractures noted in this study, although the effect of neuter could not be determined. There were no differences in fracture characteristics among the three different geographical locations in the United States.

Highlights

An avulsion fracture occurs when a bone fragment detaches from the main part of bone at the attachment site of tendon, ligament or joint capsule as a result of physical trauma
The most common avulsion fractures were tibial tuberosity fractures, which tend to occur in young, small dogs
A keyword search with avulsion fracture was conducted on available medical database at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (Cornell; Universal Veterinary Information System), University of California Davis (UCD; Veterinary Hospital Information System), and Michigan State University (MSU; Vetstar) for the period of 2008 to 2018

Summary

Introduction

An avulsion fracture occurs when a bone fragment detaches from the main part of bone at the attachment site of tendon, ligament or joint capsule as a result of physical trauma. Tensile forces often cause an avulsion fracture, and shear forces play an important role in its mechanism of injury. An avulsion fracture is considered uncommon compared with all other types of fractures; when they occur, they still cause severe pain and functional disability in dogs. An avulsion fracture commonly occurs near the joints and may involve the physis in growing animals, which generally requires immediate surgical intervention.[1,2,3,4,5] Despite its clinical significance, little is known about the epidemiological aspects of avulsion fractures in dogs. Current textbooks describe avulsion fractures of the following anatomical locations, including the acromion process (origin of the acromial part of deltoid muscle), supraglenoid tubercle (origin of biceps brachii muscle), greater tubercle (insertion of supraspinatus muscle), olecranon (insertion of triceps brachii muscle), ulnar styloid (lateral collateral ligament), radial styloid (medial collateral ligament), accessory carpal bone (carpal ligaments and insertion of flexor carpi ulnaris), ischial tuberosity

Methods

Results

Conclusion