COMMINUTED SUPRACONDYLAR HUMERAL FRACTURES REPAIRED WITH A MODIFIED TYPE-I EXTERNAL SKELETAL FIXATOR CONSTRUCT

Highly comminuted supracondylar humeral fractures were stabilised in s ix large-breed dogs with a modified type I external fixator using a cr aniomedial acrylic connecting column and an intramedullary pin which w as incorporated into the connecting frame. This construct provided suf ficient stability to allow satisfactory bone healing in five of the si x dogs, while premature removal of the intramedullary pin and external fixator resulted in subsequent refracture of the humerus in the remai ning dog, Limb function at the time of final assessment was considered excellent in two dogs, good in three dogs and poor in one dog. The cr aniomedial acrylic connecting column simplified application of this mo dified type I(a) configuration to the humerus by reducing the number o f clamps required; the acrylic column also facilitated contouring of t he craniomedial connecting column to the brachium and was readily exte nded proximally to engage the intramedullary pin. In addition, the acr ylic connecting column allowed placement of intramedullary pins of var ying diameter.