Sacroiliac Fracture‐Separation in the Dog: A Study of 92 Cases

Abstract

The case records of 92 consecutive dogs that suffered sacroiliac fracture‐separation were examined. Seventy‐seven per cent (71 of 92) had unilateral sacroiliac injury and 23% (21 of 92) had bilateral sacroiliac injury. Of the unilateral cases, 93% (66 of 71) of the dogs had associated acetabular, ilial, femoral, or tibial fractures; coxofemoral luxations; or cruciate injuries. Eighty‐five per cent (78 of 92) of the dogs had either bilateral sacroiliac injury or unilateral sacroiliac injury and other orthopedic injuries of the opposite limb, thus disabling both hind limbs.Sixty‐five per cent (60 of 92) of the dogs received lag screw fixation of the sacroiliac joint. Of 29 dogs that were re‐radiographed on an average of 437 days following fixation, 38% (11 of 29) showed evidence of loosening of the lag screw fixation.aScrews that were placed in the body of the sacrum in some dogs resulted in the fewest loosened fixations (12%, 2 of 17), compared to other locations of screw placement. The fixation had loosened in 7% (1 of 14) of dogs that had a cumulative screw depth/sacral width of 60% or more, compared with 48% of dogs (10 of 21) where cumulative screw depth was less than 60%. The number of screws per fixation and whether the separation was fully reduced or not did not affect whether the fixation loosened.