Femoral osteosynthesis in black capuchin monkey (Sapajus nigritus) using locking plate

ABSTRACT

Background: Locking bone plates for internal fixation are characterized by plates with a locknut by screwing in a threaded chamber. The increased stability associated with less vascular lesion contribute to the lower risk of complications and makes the locking bone plates especially interesting in fracture management of wild animals to be reintroduced into nature. The aim of this report is to describe the case of a black capuchin monkey with a femoral fracture, submitted to internal fixation using locking plate, with a satisfactory postoperative evolution, characterized by the bone consolidation and full recovery of the function of the member.Case An exemplar of an adult male black capuchin monkey (Sapajus nigritus) with 4.2 kg of body weight was presented due to a comminuted, diaphyseal fracture of the left femur. The animal was then submitted to internal fixation of the femoral fracture using a 2.0 mm locking plate with 11 holes. For the internal fixation, the plate was contoured and positioned on the lateral surface of the bone. In addition, four locking screws were inserted through both cortices in the proximal bone segment, while other three locking screws were inserted in the distal bone segment. Two of the distal locking screws were inserted through both bone cortices, while one of them were inserted through only one bone cortical. The animal showed complete functional recovery of the left hind limb at 30 days postoperatively. Despite this, it was visualized at the radiographic examination a partial release of the plate from the distal bone segment. Due to this, the animal was submitted to another surgical intervention to replace the distal locking screws by bicortical locking screws. The animal showed hind limb weight support at the second day postoperatively. The complete functional recovery of the left hind limb, however, was verified at 26 days postoperatively.[...]