Supracondylar femoral fractures in 159 dogs and cats treated using a normograde intramedullary pinning technique

Three separate studies that collectively represent 107 dogs and 52 cats wit h supracondylar femoral fractures are presented, The animals were treated u sing a normograde intramedullary pinning technique at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science during the period 1964 to 1993. The surgical techniqu e involves insertion of one or two intramedullary pins normograde from the stifle joint without passing their proximal end proximal to the level of th e femoral neck. The results of treatment were obtained for 73 dogs and 39 c ats. Of these cases, 58 dogs (79.5 per cent) and 32 cats (82.1 per cent) we re found to be free of lameness after the completion of treatment. Differen ces in the results of treatment, based on species or size, were not found. Of all cases in which the results of treatment were known (n=112), complica tions were recorded in nine animals (8.0 per cent), Infection and instabili ty were the most common complications, affecting four and three cases, resp ectively.