title: Biological osteosynthesis versus traditional anatomic reconstruction of 20 long-bone fractures using an interlocking nail: 1994-2001.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe differences in surgical and healing times as well as complication rates in dogs with a comminuted long-bone fracture stabilized with an interlocking nail (IN) using either anatomic or biologic repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty client-owned dogs with comminuted long-bone fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records for dogs with fractures repaired during a 7-year period were reviewed; 20 dogs had repair with an IN nail and radiographic evidence of healing. These 20 dogs where divided into 2 groups, anatomic (11 dogs) and biological (9) repair, for statistical evaluation. Surgical and healing time and complication rates were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median surgical times were: anatomic (95 minutes) and biologic (110 minutes; P=.06). Median healing times were anatomic (8 weeks) and biologic (6 weeks; P=.04). No statistical differences were observed in complication rates (the likelihood that a case required a second surgery [P=.58], the likelihood of a complication that was managed non-surgically [P=.27]). Use of a bone graft did not shorten healing times (P=.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biological osteosynthesis provides clinical advantages over anatomic reconstruction with respect to a reduction in surgical and healing time without increasing complication rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Highly comminuted long-bone fractures can be successfully repaired using an IN without reconstructing the fracture fragments in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. horstman@cvm.msstate.edu
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Horstman
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Beale
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Conzemius
authors.forename: Rich
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans R
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000662:veterinary*; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000662:veterinary*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome