title: The use of veterinary cuttable plates for carpal and tarsal arthrodesis in small dogs and cats.
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate, retrospectively, carpal and tarsal arthrodesis in small dogs and cats by using veterinary cuttable plates in 6 animals and comparing those with arthrodesis stabilized with other implants in 9 animals. Veterinary cuttable plates were used for 1 pancarpal, 2 partial tarsal, and 3 pantarsal arthrodeses. Other implants were used to stabilize 1 pancarpal, 6 partial tarsal, and 2 pantarsal arthrodeses. In the veterinary cuttable plates group, complications included 2 cases with pressure sores and 1 case with screw loosening. One animal was lost to follow-up and 4 of the remaining 5 were always weight-bearing. In the other group, there were 2 cases with pressure sores, 1 case with dermatitis, and 2 cases with pin migration. Six out of 9 animals were always weight-bearing. The use of veterinary cuttable plates appears to be a suitable option with a good clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario. theoretmc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Théoret
authors.forename: Noël M M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Moens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary*; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary; D050824:Carpal Joints / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013640:Tarsal Joints / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome