Management of supracondylar femoral fracture with different techniques in dogs: A gross and undecalcified ground section study

In all 20 mongrel dogs of either sex, divided equally in 4 groups, a transv erse supracondylar fracture was created in the left femur and were immobili zed with cross IM pinning (group A), modified technique of single IM pinnin g (group B), standard stainless steel plating (group C), and contoured horn plating (group D). All the animals were euthanized on day 90 and the fract ure site was subjected to gross, and undecalcified ground sections (photogr aphic enlarged section and tetracycline labelling) studies. The fracture he aling was faster and more complete on endosteal side with no clear demarcat ion of fracture line than periosteal side in most of the animals of 4 group s. The amount of periosteal callus was relatively more in groups B and C. F racture healing was more faster in groups A and D, and it was comparable am ong them; and healing was slowest in group B, indicating that cross IM pinn ing and horn plating provide more rigid fixation leading to early healing t han single IM pinning and standard stainless steel plating.