title: Fracture management decisions.
abstract: Management decisions regarding the care of fracture patients are best performed by a veterinary surgeon who, in logical manner, takes into account the configuration and characteristics of the individual fracture, considers patient attributes such as temperament, evaluates all the possible fixation attempts for success, and then selects the most likely fracture fixation device and uses it along well-established guidelines. Fracture repairs should achieve anatomic reduction, rigid stability, and early return to function to provide for good success. Fracture repairs that are beyond the experience, expertise, or equipment of a general practitioner should be referred to a qualified surgeon. Most complications of fracture repair can be traced to case management or technical errors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roush
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000293:injuries*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary