Minimally invasive percutaneous medial plate-rod osteosynthesis for treatment of humeral shaft fractures in dog and cats: Surgical technique and prospective evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and prospectively report outcomes associated with a novel minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique for the treatment of humeral fractures in dogs and cats.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical case series.

ANIMALS: Eleven dogs and 4 cats with traumatic nonarticular humeral fractures.

METHODS: Dogs and cats that presented with traumatic humeral fractures were enrolled in the study. After closed reduction, the fracture was stabilized by using a plate-rod combination applied via remote medial incisions. Postoperative alignment in the frontal and sagittal planes was statistically compared with the contralateral limbs. Time to clinical union and complications were also recorded.

RESULTS: Eleven dogs and 4 cats were included in this study. Body weight ranged from 4.5 to 33.6 kg in dogs and from 2.2 to 3.6 kg in cats. A veterinary cuttable plate (6/11 dogs and 3/4 cats) or locking compression plate was used in a plate-rod configuration (11/11 dogs and 2/4 cats) or alone (2/4 cats). Rod-to-medullary-cavity ratio was 30%. Plate-span ratio was 5.8 (range, 2-13.5). No significant differences were found in frontal or sagittal plane alignment. Healing time in cases that completed on-time follow-up (12/15) was 36 ± 14 days (range, 20-69). No major complications were recorded.

CONCLUSION: The reported technique was associated with good outcomes in a large variety of fracture configurations and animal sizes, with no complications.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This report provides evidence that MIPO is a compelling alternative to open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of various humeral fractures.