THE EFFECT OF LONG-TERM BONE PLATE APPLICATION FOR FIXATION OF RADIALFRACTURES IN DOGS

This study was divided into two phases. In the in vitro phase, a stain less steel bone plate was applied to the cranial surface of the radius in 14 canine limbs. The effect of the presence of a bone plate on bon e density analysis using radiographic photodensitometry (RP) was evalu ated by comparing the density measurement of the unplated limb to the density measurement of the plated limb, The optical density of the pla ted bones was 12% greater than that of the unplated bones. This inform ation was used as a correction factor for the in vivo study. In the in vivo phase, 23 dogs with radial and ulnar fractures were examined for complications associated with the long-term application of a stainles s steel plate applied to the cranial surface of the radius. In 14 dogs , RP analysis was used to compare the plated limb with the normal, con tralateral limb. No significant differences in radial cortical bone de nsity existed between the plated limb and the contralateral limb after taking into account the effect a bone plate had on photodensitometry readings. There was no significant correlation between the change in r adial cortical density and the duration of bone plate application, sug gesting that a steady state between bone loss and bone production occu rs after long-term plate fixation of the fractured canine radius. The majority (87%) of the dogs with a plate applied to the radius greater than 1 year had normal limb usage when standing, walking, or running. (C) Copyright 1994 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons