Outcomes of 15 dogs and two cats with metabone fractures treated with fluoroscopically guided normograde metabone pinning

Objective To report the outcomes of 15 dogs and two cats with metabone fractures treated with fluoroscopically guided normograde metabone pinning (FGNMP). Study design Retrospective case series. Animals A total of 15 client owned dogs and two cats with 57 metabone fractures. Methods Description of FGNMP and reporting of the following data: signalment, pre‐ and postoperative radiographs, intramedullary pin diameter used, anesthesia, surgery and coaptation times, duration to normal weightbearing and bone union, postoperative care and complications. Results Median surgery time was 54 min (range: 26–99), median duration of coaptation was 14 days (range: 1–5 weeks), median time to normal weightbearing was 16 days (range: 2–45) and median time to bone union was 6 weeks (range: 4–12). All cases had at least 12 months of post‐surgical follow‐up with a median follow‐up of 18 months (range: 12–70). No major complications occurred. Mild radiographic changes associated with subchondral bone sclerosis were noted on follow‐up radiographs in 13/57 fractures. All cases returned to normal gait and full (15) or acceptable (2) function. Conclusion In this study, FGNMP was an effective and safe technique for metabone fracture repair, requiring only short‐term external coaptation in most patients. Time to bone union and return to normal function compared favorably to previously reported techniques. Clinical relevance Fluoroscopically guided normograde metabone pinning provides an alternative technique for treatment of metabone fractures.