The application of external fixation for bone fracture treatment in dogs

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating efficiency of the external fixation method in comparison with theplaster cast method for bone fracture treatment. The studied result showed that the external fixationmethod needed more time for stabilizing and starting to use the limbs compared with the plaster castmethod. Through Glasgow scale for pain assessment showed that the dogs were suffered with morepain in the external fixation method compared to the plaster cast method. Both methods exposedthe different complications but the complications from external fixation method could be solved andbrought with good results. Otherwise, in order to solve the complications from plaster cast method, thecast needed to be removed and replaced by another stabilizing method. Time for bone healing wasassessed by X-ray films on the day 7th, 14th, 30th and 60th after stabilization and through that, the healingprocess of the external fixation method was better. Besides, due to the complication, the cast was notheld more than 15 days, leading to the healing evaluation was not accurate and there was one case ofbone deviation on the day 7th after stabilization. The cost for bone fracture treatment by external fixationmethod was higher than by plaster cast method.