Abstract:
Literature concerning the causes of delayed bone healing in distal canine tibial diaphyseal fractures, is reviewed. Attention is given to the importance of bone healing by callus formation in the absence of rigid fixation, as well as the normal bone healing process pertaining to radiological examination. The use of radionuclides as an auxilliary diagnostic aid to evaluate the activity of bone healing, is also presented.
Thirteen Beagle dogs were used in this research project. Transverse distal tibial diaphyseal osteotomies were performed in the left and later in the right hindleg of each animal. Bone healing was compared after fixation with a modified Mennen plate in combination with an intramedullary Steinmann pin and fixation with the half Kirschner splint in combination. with an ,intramedullary Steinmann pin. An intramedullary Steinmann pin without additional stabilization was used as control. The surgical application and details of each evaluation technique are described. Exuberant periosteal callus formation was seen radiologically when the modified Mennen plates were placed subperiosteally. The clinical results obtained by fixating tibiae with modified Mennen plates were appreciably better than those fixated with half Kirschner splints.
Radiological and radionuclide scintimetric results, as well as the
Spalteholz and histomorphologic evaluations for each fixation
technique, are presented and discussed.
The modified Mennen plate in combination with an intramedullary
Steinmann pin revealed excellent clinical application possibilities,
whilst complications like pin seepage and longstanding symptoms of
lameness were associated with the half Kirschner splint. Auxilliary stabilisation, assisting to help prevent delayed bone union in the distal tibia, is definitely recommended in view of the results of this clinical trial.
