Treatment/management of Fractures

Common surgical conditions - Fractures

What are the 5 methods of treatment/management for fractures?

• Closed reduction.

• Open reduction.

• Amputation.

• Euthanasia.

• Other - Pain relief, anti-anxiety medication, antibiotics.

What is closed reduction?

A non-surgical medical procedure where a vet manually manipulates the animals fractures bone back into their proper alignment under heavy sedation or anaesthesia.

Splints or Robert Jones bandages are used to support the fracture afterwards.

What type of fractures use closed reduction?

• Greenstick fractures.

• Non displaced fractures distal (elbow) to the stiffle or elbow.

What is open reduction?

A surgical medical procedure where a vet makes an incision directly into to skin and tissue to view and manually reposition a fracture.

Pins, external skeletal fixators, wire or plates are then used to keep the bone in position.

What type of fractures use open reduction?

Can be used on all fracture types!

What is amputation?

A surgical removal of all or part of a limb or body extremity.

What fractures use amputation?

Can be used on all fracture types however it tends to be used for:

• Limited financial options.

• Open fractures with heavy contamination.

• Fractures that will be difficult to reduce (multiple fragments).

• Fractures that have failed to heal.

When would euthanasia be used?

When a bone fracture is catastrophic or complications are likely to make recovery impossible.