Orthopedic Surgery

Bone Trauma in Dogs and Cats

Fractures occur commonly in both dogs and cats. They are frequently caused by vehicular accidents, firearms, fights, or falls. 
Fractures can be open or closed and involve single or multiple bones. Characteristics of the fracture—such as simple, comminuted, oblique, transverse, or spiral—are based on disruptive trauma forces (bending, compression, tension, and rotation). 

Fractures left to heal on their own may either not heal at all or they may heal in a maligned fashion, rendering the limb nonfunctional or resulting in arthritis.
Young, healthy dogs with incomplete fractures can be treated with external splints or casts. 
Surgical techniques for fracture management include using external (fixators) or internal devices, such as bone plates (LC, LC-DCP plate), screws, orthopaedic wires, interlocking nails, and pins. The prognosis for recovery is usually good.