Fracture repair

A two-and-half-year-old cow was presented with a defect nonunion of the right metatarsal III/IV bone following a severely comminuted open fracture two months previously. The animal underwent open fixation using a 4.5 mm, broad, 10-hole, dynamic compression plate and autogenous cancellous bone graft collected from the contralateral iliac shaft. The animal started partial weight bearing after the third postoperative day and resumed complete weight bearing after the 10th day. Fracture healing was complete and the implants were removed after the 120th postoperative day.

Objective:
To compare proximal fragment displacement and the peri-implant strain using a pin-sleeve cast (PSC) system and a transfixation pin cast (TPC) system on a cadaveric calf metacarpal bone fracture model.

Study Design
Experimental.

Sample Population
Cadaveric calf metacarpal bones (n = 6 pairs).

Methods

Objective
To evaluate biocompatibility of biodegradable sleeves containing antimicrobial agents, designed for local drug delivery to prevent implant-related infection.
Study Design
Synthetic polyester sleeves (a copolymer of glycolide, caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, lactide) were cast as thin films. The antimicrobial agents incorporated in the sleeves included gentamicin sulfate, triclosan, or a combination of these drugs.
Animals
Adult sheep (n = 15).
Methods

Objective: To report lumbar vertebrae transverse process fracture repair using a narrow 3.5 mm limited contact dynamic compression plate (LC-DCP) in an adult dairy cow.

Study Design: Case report.

Animals: A 3-year-old Holstein cow.

Methods: Under general anesthesia, fractured left transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae 2–4 were repaired using internal fixation. A narrow 3.5 mm LC-DCP was contoured and secured to the spinous process and the transverse process of each fractured vertebra.