Fracture stabilization is commonly required for injuries sustained by pets in traumatic events. The most common fractures involve the long bones such as the femur, tibia or radius. Reduction of the bone fragments and stabilization of the fracture along with early return to function are the keys to successful outcomes for these patients. (See Figure 1).

It is important to evaluate all body systems when a fracture has occurred. Fractures are obvious injuries and many other problems may result from the trauma that caused the fracture. We evaluate the cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurologic and other systems thoroughly in patient's with fractures to assure the entire patient is being treated.

There are many approaches to fracture fixation. We employ all available technology and equipment in our practice and seek to balance the patient's needs with the appropriate implant system to achieve bone healing success. We routine employ bone plating, external skeletal fixation and other techniques to address our patient's needs.