Outcome of limb fracture repair in rabbits: 139 cases (2007–2015)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcome of limb fracture repair in rabbits. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 139 client-owned rabbits with limb fractures treated between 2007 and 2015. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed for information on fracture location, fracture treatment, and time to fracture healing. RESULTS 25 rabbits had fractures involving the distal aspects of the limbs (ie, metacarpal or metatarsal bones, phalanges, and calcaneus or talus). Fractures were treated in 23 of these 25 rabbits (external coaptation, n = 17; external skeletal fixation, 4; and intramedullary pinning, 2) and healed in all 23, with a median healing time of 28 days (range, 20 to 45 days). One hundred ten rabbits had long bone fractures, and fractures were treated in 100 of the 110 (external skeletal fixation, n = 89; bone plating, 1; intramedullary pinning, 3; and external coaptation, 7). The percentage of fractures that healed was significantly lower for open (14/18) than for closed (26/26) tibial fractures and was significantly lower for femoral (19/26) and treated humeral (4/6) fractures than for radial (23/24) or closed tibial (26/26) fractures. Micro-CT was used to assess fracture realignment during external skeletal fixator application and to evaluate fracture healing. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The prognosis for rabbits with limb fractures was good, with fractures healing in most rabbits following fracture repair (109/123). Micro-CT was useful in assessing fracture realignment and evaluating fracture healing.

Presentation, treatment and outcome of long‐bone fractures in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

“…A group of GCRs presenting with femoral fractures were identified in our study which highlights the differences between our population and the population reported by Sasai et al . (, ), and which may have biased the otherwise generally even distribution of fractures between the appendicular long bones (femur, radius and ulna, and tibia) in our population. This suggests that GCRs may be predisposed to femoral fractures, but could also reflect that they are more likely to be referred with this type of fracture, given that they represent only a small proportion of all rabbits presenting to the hospital over the same time period.…”

“…In contrast, the tibia was reported to be the long bone most commonly fractured in a large cohort of smaller breed rabbits (Sasai et al . , ).…”

“…, Harcourt‐Brown & Langley‐Hobbs , Langley‐Hobbs & Harcourt‐Brown , Pead & Carmichael , Rich , Sasai et al . , Terjesen ,,, Zehnder & Kapatkin ). However, the comparison of treatment methods for fractures in rabbits is still problematic as only one study has reported the short‐term outcome of surgical stabilisation with large numbers of rabbit fractures (Sasai et al .…”

“…The aetiology, characteristics, treatment and outcome of fractures in a large cohort of small‐breed rabbits (≤3.0 kg) at a single institution has recently been published reporting that treatment with external skeletal fixation (ESF) resulted in the majority of fractures healing (Sasai et al . , ).…”

“…However, the comparison of treatment methods for fractures in rabbits is still problematic as only one study has reported the short‐term outcome of surgical stabilisation with large numbers of rabbit fractures (Sasai et al . ), the majority of which were managed with ESF.…”