Pancarpal and pantarsal arthrodesis applications using compression plates in dogs

Abstract

Pancarpal arthrodesis was carried out in 6 dogs and pantarsal arthrodesis in 3 dogs, which could not use their extremities due to various reasons. For arthrodesis, 3 and 4 mm thick compression plates were used. The application was done on the dorsal aspect. Fusion was radiographically seen to have formed between post-operative 45–75 days in 10 joints belonging to 9 cases. The plate broke in one case. With the exception of 1 case, functional recovery was achieved in all cases accompanied with varying degrees of lameness. While the material was removed from 1 case in which the plate broke and another in which a chronic wound developed in the operation site, plates were not removed from any of the other cases.

Mechanical Evaluation of Two Hybrid Locking Plate Designs for Canine Pancarpal Arthrodesis

“…Nevertheless, the radiocarpal hole is one of the most susceptible regions of plate failure because of its location near the apex of the plate bend, which also results in high induced bending moments and some structural weakening of the plate during bending. This has been substantiated by previous clinical studies reporting plate breakage after pancarpal arthrodesis [4,6,7,9,24,25]. An option to mitigate plate strains is to use external coaptation with a cast, although its clinical relevance remains debatable due to adverse side effects, such as soft-tissue injuries and increased treatment costs [26,27].…”