Stabilisation of periarticular fractures and osteotomies with a notched head locking T-plate.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical outcomes and complications of small animals that had articular or periarticular fractures or osteotomies stabilised with a notched head locking T-plate.


METHODS
Medical records were searched retrospectively to identify animals that had a notched head locking T-plate used to stabilise a small articular or periarticular bone fragment.


RESULTS
Nine dogs and two cats had an articular or periarticular bone fragment stabilised with a 2.0- or 2.4-mm notched head locking T-plate (12 procedures). The median body weight was 4.7 kg. The plate was modified by removing holes in 10/12 procedures and a combination of locking and non-locking screws were used in 7/12 procedures. All fractures or osteotomies progressed to clinical union. There were two intraoperative complications (intra-articular screw placement and overlong screw) and two postoperative complications (skin necrosis and stress protection)


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports the successful use of a 2.0- or 2.4-mm notched head locking T-plate for articular or periarticular fractures or osteotomies in a variety of small-breed dogs and cats. Care must be taken to prevent inadvertent penetration of the articular surface, particularly in regions such as the proximal tibia. The ability to modify the plate dimensions intraoperatively proved beneficial in most cases.
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. chris.tan@sydney.edu.au.
C J
CJ
Tan
Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
K A
KA
Johnson
D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D057072:Intra-Articular Fractures / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications
T-plates; articular fractures; fracture repair; osteosynthesis; osteotomy; periarticular fractures