At The Animal Clinic, we perform many types of orthopaedic (bone) surgeries. Occasionally, we refer our patients to board-certified orthopaedic surgeons to perform very complex surgeries like back surgery, because we want to ensure that our patients receive the best possible outcomes.
Leg fractures are the most common orthopaedic problem presented by pets and are usually the result of a car accident. They can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the location and type of fracture. We can apply a cast to treat certain fractures; however, many fractures will require surgical intervention:
- “Pinning” stabilizes the fracture by inserting a long stainless steel rod into the middle of the bone across the fractured area.
- “Plating” involves attaching a flat stainless steel plate to the bone using screws on either side of the fracture.
- “External fixation” stabilizes fractures using a series of pins on the outside of the leg that pass through the skin and into the bone on either side of the fracture.
