title: Minimally invasive repair of meta-bones.
abstract: Metacarpal and metatarsal fractures are common injuries in small animals and, in most of the cases, can be treated by minimally invasive techniques. Bone plates applied through epi-periosteal tunnels can stabilize meta-bones. Meta-bones III and IV are stabilized by dorsally applied plates. Meta-bones II and V are stabilized using plates applied medially and laterally. The scarcity of soft tissue coverage and the simple anatomy of meta-bones make these fractures amenable to fixation by using minimally invasive techniques. This practice should reduce morbidity and enhance healing time.
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. alexpvet@mac.com
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Tomás G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Guerrero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome