Orthopedic clinical techniques femur fracture repair

Abstract

Femur fractures occur commonly in cats and dogs following substantial trauma. Fractures of the femur may be categorized as capital physeal, femoral neck, trochanteric, subtrochanteric, diaphyseal, supracondylar or condylar or distal physeal. Most femur fractures are closed due to the heavy overlying muscle, unless due to a penetrating injury such as a gunshot wound. Femur fractures are generally not amenable to conservative repair, and some kind of internal fixation is generally required. Implant systems suitable for repair of femur fractures include bone plates, interlocking nails, plate-rod construct, lag screws, pins and wires and external fixators. Fractures may be repaired using anatomic reduction and rigid fixation or using the principles of biologic osteosynthesis. Biologic osteosynthesis is particularly effective for highly comminuted fractures because vascular supply and soft tissue attachments to bone fragments are preserved, speeding the formation of bone callus. Articular fractures should be anatomically reduced and rigidly stabilized to reduce the chance of progressive osteoarthritis.