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When a dog or a cat fractures a leg, it is necessary to operate. The aim of such a procedure is to reduce and stabilise the fracture.

This quickly reduces the pain endured by the patient and allows healing without sequel. This video will take you through all the stages of the surgical repair of a fractured front leg in a dog.

Pre-operative x-rays allow visualisation of the fracture line. The decision is made to plate the broken bones.

Bone and joint infections can be very difficult to treat. It is therefore very important to take every possible step to ensure sterility:

1. The leg is clipped entirely and scrubbed thoroughly with a powerful antiseptic solution.
2. The muscles around the fractured leg are carefully dissected
3. The fracture line can be visualised and an adequate plate selected
4. A hole is drilled through the bone, on one extremity of the plate
5. Taping of the hole is necessary
6. The first screw can then be screwed in
7. The same process is repeated for the other screws, beginning with the other extremity of the plate
8. This is the result after implantation of all the screws
9. Following stitching up of the tissues and skin around the bone, an x-ray is taken and the patient is woken up.
10. The x-ray provides confirmation of the nice fracture reduction

Follow up x-rays, under sedation, should be taken every 4 to 6 weeks following the operation. Whenever a nice callus has developed, the plate should be removed under general anaesthetic.

Posted by Vetstoria.com, about 1 year ago