Intraoperative use of a transarticular circular fixator construct to facilitate reduction and stabilisation of a proximal tibial physeal fracture in a dog

CASE REPORT

A 4-month-old female intact American Pit Bull Terrier was presented for right pelvic limb lameness 1 day after the dog had been hit by an all-terrain vehicle. Orthogonal radiographs of the right stifle revealed a Salter-Harris type IV fracture through the proximal tibial physis extending caudodistally through the proximal tibial metaphysis. The distal tibia was markedly displaced cranially, laterally and proximally, resulting in complete overriding of the fracture segments. An open approach was made in order to facilitate direct reduction, but the fracture could not be sufficiently distracted and the epiphyseal segment remained fixed caudal to the remainder of the tibia. Concerns regarding possible iatrogenic trauma to the epiphysis prompted the use of a transarticular circular fixator construct to distract the fracture segments to facilitate reduction. Distraction that facilitated reduction was performed using three TrueLok Rapid Quick Adjust Struts that were positioned between the two ring components. The struts also allowed for multiplanar adjustment of alignment, which allowed the fracture to be maintained in anatomic reduction as divergent interfragmentary Kirschner wires were placed. Radiographic union was confirmed 19 days after surgery.

CONCLUSION/CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Transient intraoperative application of a circular construct incorporating the TrueLok components facilitated accurate fracture reduction without inflicting further iatrogenic trauma to the epiphysis, after traditional direct reduction techniques proved ineffective, and afforded a successful clinical outcome in the dog reported here.