title: Treatment of tibial fractures with plates using minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis in dogs and cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the here described case series was to develop and evaluate the minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis for the plate fixation of tibial fractures in dogs and cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six dogs and four cats with shaft fractures of the tibia were treated using minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis. Follow-up radiographs four to six weeks after fracture fixation were evaluated for fracture healing. For the long-term follow-up (minimum 2.4 years), owners were contacted by phone to complete a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All fractures healed without the need for a second procedure. Follow-up radiographs obtained after four to six weeks in seven cases showed advanced bony healing with callus formation and filling of the fracture gaps with calcified tissue in all seven. All the patients had a good to excellent long-term result with full limb function. The time needed for regaining full limb use was two to three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis seems to be a useful technique for the treatment of tibial shaft fractures in dogs and cats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Division of Small Animal Surgery, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Schmökel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schawalder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000662:veterinary*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome