Management of tibial fractures in dogs using plaster of paris cast and modified thomas splint

Abstract

The study was undertaken with the objectives of

1. Assessing the healing process based on clinical symptoms, biochemical parameters and radiography of the affected part after immobilization of tibial fractures with plaster of Paris cast and modified Thomas splint. 2. Assessing the effect of electrodiagnostic procedures on healing of fracture of tibia in dogs. The study was conducted in twelve selected clinical cases of fracture of tibia in dogs of either sex presented to the Department of Surgery. These animals were randomly divided into two groups (group 1 and group 11) consisting of six animals each. All the animals were examined clinically and radiographically and observations were recorded. They were premedicated with Atropine sulphate (0.04 mg/kg body weight) intramuscular followed by xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg body weight) intramuscular. The fracture was reduced by closed method in all the animals. The limb was immobilized by application of modified Thomas Splint in Group 1 and by application of plaster of Paris cast in group 11. History and observations on clinical and physiological parameters, haemogram, serum constituents, radiography of the limb and electrodiagnostic procedures were recorded in all the animals on the day of presentation and at the end of first week, second week, third week and sixth week after immobilization. All the animals were kept under observation for a period of six weeks. Though 30 per cent of the animals in each group started bearing weight on the affected limb by the end of first week, fracture instability and other associated symptoms persisted relatively more in animals of group 1. At the end of second week, the symptoms of fractures except oedema were found to be persisting in more number of animals belonging to group 1 due to mutilation of the Thomas splint. By third week all the animals in group 11 could bear weight on the affected limb but limb dysfunction still persisted in fifty per cent of the animals in group 1. By the end of sixth week all the animals in both the groups showed apparently normal use of the limb. Temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate showed variation within normal range during the period of observation in all the animals. Haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count and lymphocyte count showed marginal increase on first week post fracture followed by a decrease thereafter in all the animals of both the groups. But neutrophil count showed a fall on the first week post fracture followed by a gradual increase in group 1, but in group 11 it revealed a decrease in values throughout the period of observation. Eosinophil and monocyte count showed only marginal variations during the period of observation in both the groups. Serum total protein showed a decrease till second week followed by an increase in group 1 but the variation was marginal in group 11. Serum alkaline phosphatase showed an increase till second week followed by a decrease thereafter in both the groups. Serum aspartate amino transaminase values remained at a higher level in the post fracture period in group 1 but in group 11 it was relatively at a lower level. Periosteal callus started developing near the fracture site along with reduction in soft tissue swelling and opacity of fragment ends in four animals in group 1 and two animals in group 11 by the end of first week. Five animals in group 1 and four animals in group 11 showed presence of massive periosteal callus by the end of third week and three animals in group 11 and two animals in group 1 showed presence of smooth and opaque periosteal callus with complete disappearance of fracture line by the end of sixth week. Eventhough there was marginal increase in the strength required to produce minimal contractile response in the initial period after fracture reduction, by sixth week, the values were near normal at all the duration in both the groups.