title: Antebrachial fractures in four captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify common risk factors for antebrachial fractures of captive polar bears and to evaluate outcome after fracture repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four captive polar bears.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States zoological collections were surveyed to determine the prevalence of fractures in captive polar bears. Medical records of captive polar bears that had antebrachial fractures were reviewed for signalment, history, physical and radiographic findings, fracture management, postoperative care, and outcome. Serum samples from healthy bears and bears with antebrachial fractures were assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen fractures (12 polar bears) occurred from 1974 to 2002; 12 fractures involved the antebrachium. Management of 4 antebrachial fractures was reviewed; 3 were repaired by internal fixation and 1 by external coaptation. Fractures healed and bears were returned to exhibit on average 3 months postfracture. Of 11 serum samples assayed for 25-OHD concentrations, 6 were below normal, 1 was low normal and 4 were within normal reference intervals. The 7 bears with subnormal or low normal values were housed in 2 zoos. Subnormal vitamin D concentrations were identified in 2 of 3 bears with fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fracture disease is not uncommon in captive polar bears. Additional research is necessary to explore the role of nutrition in polar bear fracture disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internal fixation of antebrachial fractures is feasible and reasonably well tolerated in captive polar bears.
authors.affiliation: Cornell University Hospital for Animals, Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engeli
authors.forename: Allan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Prowten
authors.forename: Hollis N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Erb
authors.forename: Norm G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Ducharme
authors.forename: Laurie R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Goodrich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000097:blood / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001503:Ursidae / Q000097:blood / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D