title: Management of humeral and femoral fractures in dogs and cats with linear- circular hybrid external skeletal fixators.
abstract: Linear-circular hybrid fixators were used to stabilize humeral and femoral fractures in 21 dogs and five cats. Twenty-two of 24 fractures with sufficient follow-up radiographic evaluation obtained union. Time to radiographic union ranged from 25 to 280 days (mean +/- standard deviation [SD] 110+/-69 days; median 98 days). Eleven animals developed minor and two dogs developed major pin and/or wire tract inflammation. Functional outcome was rated as excellent (n=16), good (n=5), and fair (n=3) at the time of final long-term assessment (range 4.5 to 60.0 months; mean +/- SD 28.4+/-15.4 months; median 28.5 months). Follow-up information was unavailable for two animals. Hybrid fixators were useful constructs for stabilization of humeral and femoral fractures, particularly fractures with short, juxta-articular fracture segments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kirkby
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: M Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lafuente
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Radasch
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Farese
authors.forename: Jason L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D016267:External Fixators / Q000662:veterinary*; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome