Tibial osteosynthesis in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

Case report: Diagnosis and treatment of a chinchilla’s old radius and ulna fracture

The cortex of the limb bones of chinchillas is very thin and brittle, so it is prone to fractures of the limb bones, among which fractures of the tibia, radius and ulna are the most frequent types. When a chinchilla has a closed fracture, it can be immobilized with a splint, cast, or bandage. If the broken end of the fracture pierces the skin, it is best to choose internal fixation or external fixation brackets for treatment. In this report, a 0.661 kg, 2-year-old male uncastrated chinchilla was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Huazhong Agricultural University due to an old fracture of the right forearm. With the consent of the owner, we decided to use a 25-gauge needle as an IM pin to fix the fracture. Ten days after surgery, the wound had healed well, and the limb could support body weight, but the palm did not show a grasping position. Twenty four days after the operation, the affected limb had not regained the ability to grasp. The X-ray showed a slight rotation of the IM pin and good callus growth in the ulna, but not in the radius. One month after the operation, it was found that the function of the affected limb of the chinchilla was normal and the grasping ability was restored through follow-up consultation and the return visit.

Correção de fratura Salter-Harris tipo I em porquinho-da-índia (Cavia porcellus) ˗ relato de caso

RESUMO Um filhote de porquinho-da-índia (Cavia porcellus) foi recebido para atendimento após histórico de ataque por cão. Na avaliação física, observou-se edema, dor e crepitação em membro pélvico direito, sugestivo de fratura. Na avaliação radiográfica, confirmou-se fratura Salter-Harris tipo I em epífise distal da tíbia. A resolução cirúrgica escolhida foi a associação de pino transarticular e coaptação externa com tala de Altman. O paciente teve acompanhamento radiográfico semanal e obteve alta médica no 35o dia de pós-cirúrgico, quando se observou consolidação com completo remodelamento ósseo.

Exotic Mammal Orthopedics

Orthopedic disorders are a common clinical presentation for the exotic clinician. Before treating the fracture it is vital to stabilize the patient. Small exotic mammals are characterized by relatively thinner bones, adding to the difficulty the small size already represents. A combination of conservative and surgical treatment options are available. The principles of orthopedic surgery and ideas behind the treatment options remain the same as for small mammals, but not all techniques can be directly extrapolated. Historically, the tie-in fixator has been the preferred surgical choice whenever feasible, but further development in bone plates represents a promising advancement.