Feline radial and ulnar diaphyseal fractures: a retrospective study of 49 cases comparing single bone fixation and dual bone fixation.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to report the complications in radial and ulnar diaphyseal fractures in cats and to compare the differences in outcome between single and dual bone internal fixation. METHODS: Medical records between 2004 and 2022 were searched retrospectively for cats with antebrachial diaphyseal fractures treated with internal bone-plate fixation. In total, 49 cases were included from six referral hospitals, including one teaching hospital. Patient information was collated, including fracture configuration, location, repair method and clinical outcome as assessed by veterinary physical examination, radiography and owner questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 47 cats (mean age 4.2 years) were included. Fractures were located distally (24/49, 49%), proximally (13/49, 26.5%) and mid-diaphyseally (12/49, 24.5%). Dual bone fixation was used in 13/49 (26.5%) cases, with only 1/13 (7.7%) having major complications. By comparison, 4/36 (11.1%) of single plated fractures had major complications. Single bone fixation was 14.25 times more likely (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.07-97.99) to have a successful outcome (veterinarian-assigned score of 0) compared with dual bone fixation (P = 0.007). When evaluating owner-assessed outcomes, single bone fixation was 9.4 times more likely (95% CI 1.4-61.96) to have a successful outcome (owner score of 0) compared with dual bone fixation (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Fractures that were repaired with single bone fixation had a greater chance of a better outcome. Although the difference was not significant, there was a higher major complication rate and a lower minor complication rate for cases treated with single bone fixation compared with dual bone fixation. The majority of fractures were located in the distal diaphysis. Comminution of the fracture and concurrent orthopaedic issues did not significantly affect the outcome. Further prospective studies with standardised follow-up, radiographic assessment, surgeon and implants are required to truly assess the difference between dual and single bone fixation.

Influence of screw configuration on reduction and stabilization of simulated complete lateral condylar fracture in equine limbs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of screw configuration on the reduction and stabilization of simulated complete lateral condylar fracture. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized experimental crossover study. METHODS: A lateral condylar fracture was simulated in 18 cadaver limbs from nine horses. Each limb underwent repair with 4.5 mm diameter cortex screws, tightened to 4 Nm, in a linear and triangular configuration. Computed tomography (CT) of each repair was performed with the limbs in unloaded and loaded conditions. Fracture gaps were measured at the dorsal, palmar, and middle locations of the third metacarpal condyle. Fracture gap measurements were graded 0-4, based on voxels. Following descriptive analysis, a Bayesian network (BN) model was fitted to the data. RESULTS: The median fracture grade was 0 (range: 0-4) for unloaded linear repairs and 2 (0-4) for loaded linear repairs. The median fracture grade was 0 (0-3) for unloaded triangular repairs and 1 (0-3) for loaded triangular repairs. Bayesian network sensitivity analysis showed that the construct configuration reduced the uncertainty in the measured fracture outcome by 0.8%. CONCLUSION: Triangular screw configuration resulted in better fracture reduction and stability in comparison with linear screw configuration. However, the BN sensitivity analysis results showed that the effect of construct configuration on fracture outcome was weak. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These findings indicate a low probability that triangular repair of lateral condylar fracture will result in improved outcomes, when compared with linear repair.

Sacral fracture stabilisation using dorsal transiliac locking plates: 12 cases (2017-2023).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentations, outcomes and complications associated with the use of dorsal transiliac locking plates to stabilise sacral fractures in dogs and cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre retrospective analysis of all patients that presented with sacral fractures between February 2017 and February 2023 that were managed surgically using paired dorsal transiliac locking plates. Twelve animals met the criteria for inclusion in a retrospective clinical case series. An owner questionnaire was employed to assess long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Eleven dogs and one cat with a mean age of 3.1 years (range 0.6 to 8.8) were included. Eleven patients presented following a motor vehicle accident and most were either non-ambulatory (n=8) or displayed severe unilateral hindlimb lameness (n=4). Nine sacral fractures were considered Anderson type II and three Anderson type V. The plate fixation was augmented with additional surgical stabilisation in 11 cases. Eleven patients were ambulatory at discharge and all cases healed uneventfully without major surgical or postoperative complications. Long-term follow-up (>60 days) was available in 10 animals at a mean of 694 days (range 65 to 1805) and owner-assessed outcomes via questionnaire were reported as good to excellent in all cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The application of transiliac locking plates provided sufficient stability to facilitate sacral fracture healing with minimal clinical complications. This method represents a robust and safe option to stabilise sacral fractures in dogs and cats, offering an alternative to iliosacral lag screw fixation.

Adjunctive fixation of the humeral epicondyle in a lateral condylar fracture model: Ex vivo comparison of pins and plates with a novel composite (AdhFix).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical properties of using a novel composite construct (AdhFix) to an interfragmentary Kirschner wire or a reconstruction plate as adjunctive epicondylar stabilization in simulated lateral unicondylar humeral fractures. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric biomechanical assessment. SAMPLE POPULATION: Paired humeri harvested from skeletally mature dogs (14-41 kg), nine cadavers per group. METHODS: Simulated lateral unicondylar humeral fractures were stabilized with a transcondylar 4.5 mm cortical screw placed in lag fashion. Adjunct fixations consisting of a novel composite incorporating 2.7 mm cortical screws on one side, and either a 2.7 mm reconstruction plate or a 1.6 mm Kirschner wire on the contralateral side, were tested within paired humeri. Repaired humeri were axially loaded to failure and construct stiffness, yield load, and ultimate load were obtained from the load-deformation curves. RESULTS: In pairwise comparison, yield load was significantly higher for AdhFix group compared to the pin group, p = .016. No statistical significance was seen in the comparison between AdhFix group and the plate group, p = .25. CONCLUSION: Adhfix was mechanically superior to K-wires, and comparable to plate fixation, for adjunctive fixation in a lateral humeral condylar model. Our results support further investigation of the novel composite for adjunct fracture fixation in lateral humeral condylar fractures. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The novel composite tested may be a viable alternative for adjunct fixation of humeral condylar fractures, a technique that circumvents plate contouring.

Long-term outcomes of atrophic/oligotrophic non-unions in dogs and cats treated with autologous iliac corticocancellous bone graft and circular external skeletal fixation: 19 cases (2014-2021).

OBJECTIVES: To determine the short- and long-term outcomes and complications in dogs and cats undergoing surgical treatment for viable oligotrophic and nonviable atrophic non-unions using circular external skeletal fixation and autologous corticocancellous bone graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case series, the medical records and radiographs of all dogs and cats with radius/ulna and tibia/fibula viable oligotrophic and nonviable atrophic non-unions treated with corticocancellous bone graft and circular external skeletal fixation at two referral veterinary hospitals between 2014 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The long-term follow-up was 1 year or greater. RESULTS: Thirteen dogs and six cats with 19 non-union fractures met the inclusion criteria for the study. Eighteen non-union fractures (94.7%) healed and one did not. Five patients (26%) had minor perioperative period complications (<3 months). The patient that did not achieve bone union underwent revision surgery with internal fixation (plate and screws) and autologous cancellous bone graft. Fifteen (78.9%) cases returned to full function and three (15.8%) cases returned to acceptable function in the long-term follow-up period. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of circular external skeletal fixation associated with autologous corticocancellous bone graft for the treatment of radius/ulna and tibia/fibula atrophic/oligotrophic non-union fractures in dogs and cats was considered successful in the majority of patients and was free of major or catastrophic complications.

Medial versus lateral transcondylar screw placement for canine humeral intracondylar fissures: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of screw direction on complications following transcondylar screw placement for the treatment of canine humeral intracondylar fissures (HIFs). STUDY DESIGN: Equivalence, parallel group, randomized clinical trial. SAMPLE POPULATION: Fifty-two client owned dogs (73 elbows). METHODS: Transcondylar screw placement was randomized to either a medial or lateral approach. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were 37 cases in the lateral approach group and 36 cases in the medial approach group. There was a significantly greater proportion of postoperative complications following placement of transcondylar screws from a lateral to medial direction (p = .001). There were seven cases with complications (19%) in the medial approach group versus 23 cases with complications (62%) in the lateral approach group. The majority of complications were seromas (n = 13) and surgical site infections (n = 16) with 4 complications requiring further surgery. Implant area moment of inertia (AMI), normalized to bodyweight, was lower in dogs with a major complication (p = .037). CONCLUSION: Transcondylar screws placed from lateral to medial for canine HIFs had a greater proportion of postoperative complications in this randomized clinical trial design. Implants with a lower AMI, relative to bodyweight, were more likely to lead to major complications. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: We recommend placing transcondylar screws from medial to lateral for canine HIFs to reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Relatively small diameter implants had an increased risk of major complications.

The influence of a tension band fixation as an adjunct for arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint in the horse.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of a stainless-steel cable (SSC) tension band fixation as an adjunct to a locking compression plate (LCP) for arthrodesis of the equine metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental. An ex vivo biomechanical paired equine cadaver limb study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Five MCP joint pairs were collected from adult Thoroughbred horses, euthanized for reasons unrelated to orthopedic disease. METHODS: Each pair of MCP joints were randomly implanted with either a dorsally placed 5.5 mm LCP and a palmarly placed 2.0 mm SSC or a dorsally placed 5.5 mm LCP alone. Each construct was tested in cyclic loading followed by single cycle to failure in axial compression. Displacement at a target load of 1 kN over 3600 cycles at 1 Hz was recorded prior to single cycle to failure testing. RESULTS: In cyclic testing, displacement was not significantly different between the first and last 5% of testing cycles regardless of construct. Maximum displacement of each construct during cyclic testing was <1.1 mm. In single cycle testing, the observed yield point did not reveal any difference between LCP and LCP-SSC (p = .440). The maximum load at failure was significantly higher in LCP-SSC compared to constructs with the LCP alone (p = .046). CONCLUSION: The addition of the SSC to the LCP did not statistically affect construct displacement during cyclic loading or construct yield load during subsequent single cycle to failure. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study provided much needed information regarding the necessity of a tension band SSC application in the arthrodesis of the MCP/MTP joint in horses.

Computed tomography and fluoroscopy versus radiographic guidance for internal fixation of simulated dorsomedial-plantarolateral central tarsal bone fractures in nonracehorses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess screw placement in simulated dorsomedial-plantarolateral central tarsal bone (CTB) fractures using two imaging guidance techniques - computed tomography (CT) with fluoroscopy compared to digital radiography alone (DR). STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Equine cadaver hindlimbs (n = 10 pairs). METHODS: One tarsus per pair was randomly assigned to have a 4.5 mm cortical screw placed across the CTB using CT and fluoroscopy (CT/F group) or digital radiography alone (DR group). Postoperative CT was performed on all limbs. Variables related to marker placement, procedure time, and screw positioning were recorded and compared using a paired t-test for dependent means (p < .05). RESULTS: Time for marker placement was longer for the CT/F group (p = .001), with no difference in total procedure time (p = .12). CT/F was not superior to radiography alone (p > .05) for parameters related to screw positioning. Based on the 95% CI, there was greater range in relative screw length using radiography (76.5%-91.2%) versus CT/F (78.4%-84.0%). CONCLUSION: Internal fixation of CTB fractures can be successfully performed using either technique for imaging guidance. CT and fluoroscopy did not result in faster or more accurate screw placement compared to radiographs alone, except in determining screw length. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mild adjustments in fluoroscopic or radiographic angle appeared to be a point of variability in the perception of screw placement. While CT is recommended for improved understanding of fracture configuration and surgical planning, radiographic guidance may be a suitable alternative for internal fixation of dorsomedial-plantarolateral fractures.

Use of Locking Plates Fixed with Cortical Screws for Pelvic Fracture Repair in 20 Cats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the use of String of Pearls (SOP) plates for the surgical management of feline pelvic fractures, including surgical technique, proposed indications, complications, and outcomes in a cohort of cats. STUDY DESIGN: This study is a single-center retrospective clinical case series. METHODS: Medical records (2015-2019) of cats presenting for pelvic fractures (n = 33) were reviewed. Type of fracture, preoperative and postoperative imaging, and complications were retrospectively retrieved. Owners were contacted via questionnaire for medium- and long-term follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 20 cats met the inclusion criteria. Minor intraoperative complications were encountered in three patients. One patient suffered a major intraoperative complication. Five major complications were encountered postoperatively. These included two greater trochanter osteotomy fixation implant removal and three SOP plate removal. Full function was recovered in all patients according to the owners' assessment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of SOP plates in feline pelvic fractures appears to yield a consistently good outcome with a very low incidence of canal narrowing and screw loosening. SOP plates are easy to contour and to apply along the entire pelvic length.

Effect of Plate-Bone Distance and Working Length on 2.0-mm Locking Construct Stiffness and Plate Strain in a Diaphyseal Fracture Gap Model: A Biomechanical Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of plate-bone distance (PBD) and working length on 2.0-mm locking compression plate (LCP) stiffness and strain in four-point bending and torsion in a diaphyseal fracture gap model. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 54 LCP with three screws per fragment were assigned to one of nine combinations of working length (WL; short, medium, and long), and PBD (1, 1.5, and 3 mm) for a sample size of six per construct configuration. Stiffness was measured under quasistatic, nondestructive four-point compression bending and torsion. Plate surface strain was recorded using three-dimensional (3D) digital image correlation during four-point compression bending. RESULTS: WL had a significant effect on overall construct stiffness in both compression bending and in torsion, with shorter WL constructs having higher stiffness (p < 0.0001). PBD had no effect on construct stiffness in compression bending; however, a significant reduction in stiffness was noted in torsion (p = 0.047) as PBD incrementally increased. WL had a significant effect on plate strain in compression bending, with shorter WL constructs having lower plate strain (p < 0.0001). PBD had no effect on plate strain in compression bending except for lower plate strain recorded in long WL constructs with 1-mm PBD, compared with 1.5- and 3-mm PBD constructs (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Longer WL constructs, regardless of PBD, had lower stiffness in compression bending, while in torsion, some modulation of this effect was noted with incremental decreases in PBD. Longer WL resulted in high plate strain, regardless of PBD.

Biomechanical Comparison of Double 2.3-mm Headless Cannulated Self-Compression Screws and Single 3.5-mm Cortical Screw in Lag Fashion in a Canine Sacroiliac Luxation Model: A Small Dog Cadaveric Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of safe positioning of double 2.3-mm headless cannulated self-compression screws (HCS) in a small dog cadaveric sacroiliac luxation model and to compare the static rotational biomechanical properties of fixation repaired using two different screw systems with a minimally invasive osteosynthesis technique: double 2.3-mm HCS and a single 3.5-mm standard cortical screw placed in a lag fashion. STUDY DESIGN: A unilateral small dog sacroiliac luxation model was stabilized using double 2.3-mm HCS (n = 11) or a single 3.5-mm cortical screw (n = 11). Radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging analyses and biomechanical testing of rotational force on the sacroiliac joint of both fixations were performed. The maximum load at failure and failure modes of each fixation were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Fluoroscopically guided percutaneous application of double HCS was safe in a unilateral sacroiliac luxation model in small dogs without violation of the vertebral and ventral sacral foramen. Furthermore, resistance to rotational force applied on fixation of the sacroiliac joint repaired with double 2.3-mm HCS estimated by maximum failure load was significantly higher than that of a single 3.5-mm cortical screw (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although this was an experimental cadaveric study, based on our results, the use of smaller double HCS may be beneficial as an alternative to the conventional single lag screw for stabilization of sacroiliac luxation in small dogs.

Biomechanical comparison of titanium alloy additively manufactured and conventionally manufactured plate-screw constructs.

AIM: To biomechanically compare the bending stiffness, strength, and cyclic fatigue of titanium additively manufactured (AM) and conventionally manufactured (CM) limited contact plates (LCP) of equivalent dimensions using plate-screw constructs. METHODS: Twenty-four 1.5/2.0-mm plate constructs (CM: n = 12; AM: n = 12) were placed under 4-point bending conditions. Data were collected during quasi-static single cycle to failure and cyclic fatigue testing until implants plastically deformed or failed. Bending stiffness, bending structural stiffness, and bending strength were determined from load-displacement curves. Fatigue life was determined as number of cycles to failure. Median test variables for each method were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test within each group. Fatigue data was also analysed by the Kaplan-Meier estimator of survival function. RESULTS: There was no evidence for a difference in bending stiffness and bending structural stiffness between AM and CM constructs. However, AM constructs exhibited greater bending strength (median 3.07 (min 3.0, max 3.4) Nm) under quasi-static 4-point bending than the CM constructs (median 2.57 (min 2.5, max 2.6) Nm, p = 0.006). Number of cycles to failure under dynamic 4-point bending was higher for the CM constructs (median 164,272 (min 73,557, max 250,000) cycles) than the AM constructs (median 18,704 (min 14,427, max 33,228) cycles; p = 0.02). Survival analysis showed that 50% of AM plates failed by 18,842 cycles, while 50% CM plates failed by 78,543 cycles. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Additively manufactured titanium implants, printed to replicate a conventional titanium orthopaedic plate, were more prone to failure in a shorter fatigue period despite being stronger in single cycle to failure. Patient-specific implants made using this process may be brittle and therefore not comparable to CM orthopaedic implants. Careful selection of their use on a case/patient-specific basis is recommended.

Locking conical coupling plates in small animal orthopedics: A review.

Conical coupling locking plates (CCP) have become an interesting alternative in veterinary orthopedics and traumatology. Available data in this regard, however, must be interpreted with caution, and several studies are still required to reach definitive conclusions on the clinical use of these implants. In this context, this review aims to discuss CCP applications and mechanical aspects in small animals and summarize in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo study results.

Treatment of traumatic cranial fracture with sonic activated polymer pins and plates resorbable implants in a dog.

INTRODUCTION: The case report describes the use of ultrasound-activated resorbable implants for surgical repair of comminuted cranial fractures in a 10 years old medium sized mix-breed dog being injured from a horse kick.

INTRODUCTION: Ce rapport de cas décrit l'utilisation d'implants résorbables activés par ultrasons pour la réparation chirurgicale de fractures crâniennes comminutives chez un chien de race moyenne âgé de 10 ans, blessé par un coup de pied de cheval.

Surgical repair of Salter-Harris type II fracture of the distal humerus: short and long-term outcomes in a case series of three dogs and one cat.

CASE HISTORIES: Three dogs and one cat sustained forelimb trauma and were presented to a university veterinary clinic (Liège, Belgium) and a private veterinary hospital (Beacouzé, France). All four animals were referred for surgery. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Two dogs and the cat were ambulatory on admission but unable to bear weight on the affected limb. One dog was non-ambulatory and lacked voluntary movement and sensation in one forelimb. Salter-Harris type II fractures of the distal humerus were diagnosed by radiography in all cases; avulsion of the brachial plexus and pelvic fractures were also present in the non-ambulatory dog. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: All Salter-Harris type II fractures were stabilised by open reduction and internal fixation with cross pins. One minor complication (seroma) and three major complications (implant migration) developed after surgery. The pins were completely removed in one case and partially removed in two cases to resolve these complications. At the final follow-up examination (12-31 months after surgery), owners reported no lameness in three of the four cases and grade 2/5 left forelimb lameness in one case. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This type of fracture is rarely described in the literature; however, it should be included in the differential diagnoses of traumatic humeral fractures in growing dogs and cats. In this case series, we achieved fair-to-excellent short-term and long-term outcomes after osteosynthesis of Salter-Harris type II fractures by cross pinning.

Do locking plugs improve implant strength? Biomechanical comparison of polyaxial locking constructs with and without locking plugs in a fracture gap model.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of locking plugs and the biomechanical properties of a 3.5 mm 8-hole polyaxial locking plate in a fracture gap model. Our hypothesis was that locking plugs would increase the strength and stiffness of the construct. Twelve 3.5 mm 8-hole plates were used to evaluate two different construct designs (with locking plugs vs. without locking plugs) with validated bone substitutes in a 25 mm bridging osteosynthesis gap model. Each construct was subjected to a single cycle four-point bending load to failure using a servo-hydraulic testing machine. Bending stiffness, bending strength, and bending structural stiffness were calculated and compared using an unpaired Student´s t-test. RESULTS: The plating construct with locking plugs did not show any significant increase in terms of bending stiffness, bending strength, and bending structural stiffness compared to plating construct without locking plugs in a 25 mm gap fracture model during a single cycle four-point bending. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions tested, filling empty plate holes with locking plugs in bridging osteosynthesis does not increase stiffness or strength of the plate-bone construct.

Biomechanical evaluation of three adjunctive methods of orthopedic tension band-wire fixation to augment simulated patella tendon repairs in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of three adjunctive methods of tension band wire fixation (TBWF) on the biomechanical properties, gap formation, and failure mode in simulated canine patella tendon rupture (RPT). STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, ex vivo. SAMPLE POPULATION: Paired hindlimbs from 32 dog cadavers. METHODS: Patellar tendons (PTs) and associated bone-muscle-tendon units were harvested. Each PT was transected then sutured using a core locking loop and simple continuous epitendinous pattern. Each hindlimb was randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 18 hindlimbs/group) using 18 gauge 316 L wire, anchored to the tibial crest distally, to perform transpatellar, suprapatellar, or combined tension band-wire (TBW) augmentation. Ten hindlimbs were utilized as control specimens. Yield, peak, and failure loads, stiffness, loads to 1 and 3 mm gap formation, and failure mode were evaluated. RESULTS: Combined transpatellar and suprapatellar TBW augmentation was superior to transpatellar or suprapatellar groups alone. Yield (p = .0008), peak (p = .004), and failure loads (p = .005) were greater for the combined group than for the transpatellar (p = .048) and suprapatellar groups (p = .01) respectively. There was no difference regarding the occurrence of 1 or 3 mm gap formation (1 mm, p = .05; 3 mm, p = .06); however, loads required to cause gap formation were greater in the combined group (p = .036). Mode of failure differed between techniques used for PT augmentation (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Combined transpatellar and suprapatellar adjunctive TBW augmentation for simulated PT repairs was biomechanically superior to either transpatellar or suprapatellar TBWF alone. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Combined suprapatellar and transpatellar TBWF may offer a viable surgical option for increased repair-site strength and greater loads to gap formation. Further studies investigating alternative techniques and materials for RPT repair augmentation are warranted.

Single institution retrospective study evaluating the frequency of implant removal and associated risk factors following open fracture fixation in 80 cases (2010-2020).

BACKGROUND: Open fractures occur commonly in small animals and are characterised by contamination of the fracture site. While never quantified, it is believed that open fractures stabilised with internal implants are at a higher risk for requiring explantation. This retrospective study determines the frequency and risk factors for explantation following use of internal fixation. Medical records of client-owned dogs and cats with an open fracture, between 2010 and 2020 stabilised using internal implants, were included. Data retrieved included signalment, cause and characterisation of the fracture, comorbidities, preexisting infections, and all details related to anesthesia and surgery. Pre-, Peri- and post-operative antibiotic use were detailed. All cases were followed to clinical union. Postoperative complications, including requirement for implant removal were recorded and classified as major or minor. Associations between potential risk factors and need for explantation were assessed. RESULTS: Of 80 cases, 72 (90%) were dogs and eight (10%) cats. Major complications were encountered in 23 (28.75%) cases and minor complications in 16 (20%) cases. Explantation was performed in 17 cases (21.25%). Out of 72 dogs, 13 required explantation (18%) whereas four of the eight cats needed implants removed (50%). Only diagnosis of postoperative infection was associated with an increased risk of explantation (RR 2.77; 95% CI 1.25; 6.15; p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Approximately 1 in 5 open fractures stabilised using internal fixation can be anticipated to require explantation, with cats potentially being at a higher risk than dogs. Cases diagnosed with postoperative infection are at a higher risk for requiring implant removal.