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Rosco was a 2-year-old male presented to our hospital. He had been involved in a MVA the previous day. It was quite obvious from the clinical examination that the left front leg (radius & ulna) was fractured. As is customary, he was promptly put on pain killers and anti-inflammatory medication.

Rosco was quite a nervous dog, not used to the noise and activity of our hospital.

X-rays revealed a radius/ulna fracture in the distal left front leg.

Radius and ulna fractures usually occur together. We have had cases, however that either one or the other was broken.

This is an example of a transverse fracture. To counteract rotational forces around the fracture site, hemi- cerclage wires were placed through  both ends of the fractute and fastened in a figure-of-eight pattern.

To place the wires, holes are made through the ends of the bones and wires threaded through them.  The ends are then joined in a cross-wise fashion.  

Rosco with a support bandage on his leg after the operation.

The bandage is primary placed to stabilise the fracture, but it also helps to reduce swelling of the leg.

Rosco should be able to go home soon!

Take care Rosco!

In this type of fracture only the radius is pinned. It is the main weight carrying bone of the front leg. Although the ulna is not 100% aligned, it will heal with the radius. Bone remodeling eventually takes place so that the “step” in the fracture site will disappear.

This is quite a straight forward pinning. The only problem occurs when muscle contracture cause the bones to override: they can be difficult to re-align. It is also attempted to break the pin off above the wrist (carpus) so that the pin isn’t sitting in the joint.