Fracture Repair
At Towcester Vets our 24 hour, 365 days a week service means we are always available should our clients need us. If you are worried your pet might have broken a bone, please call anytime.
Contact us for more information
From big incidents involving tractors and trucks to minor bumps falling off the sofa, our patients frequently get themselves into accidents that result in broken bones!
Unsurprisingly, pets with broken bones are often not themselves, quiet and subdued and might be reluctant to move or eat. Fractures of the legs or pelvis also normally cause the pet to be significantly lame, and most fractures result in swelling around the area.
Pets demonstrating any of those symptoms should be seen by a vet who may well (after providing some pain relief!) suggest some x-rays to check whether the bones are intact.
How do we treat fractures?
Once a fracture is discovered, the case vet will then discuss how best to proceed with one of our fabulous certificate holding surgeons. Dr Cat Arthurs and Helen Pope have both achieved the advanced surgical qualification and have put it to good use, with both having a wealth of experience completing a wide-range of surgical procedures, including repairing a huge variety of fractures. In fact, the two surgeons are so good that it would have been selfish to keep their skills to ourselves! Instead we are happy to take referrals from other vet practices, or clients directly, who feel that their patients would benefit from Cat and Helen’s expertise.
The factors that the vets will consider in making their recommendations will include which bone or bones are broken, whether the fracture is complete or a crack across only part of the bone, whether there are multiple fragments, whether there are other injuries, the age of the animal and their temperament! They also consider every animal as an individual and will also take into account the lifestyle and financial position of the owners.
Surgical fixation: holding the fragment of bones in the correct position without any instability is the quickest way for a fracture to heal and gives the best outcome overall. Our talented team are able to piece back together and realign bones, even when the injuries are severe. Depending on the injury and it’s location they might use metal plates, wires, pins or external metal scaffolding (external fixators) in order to get the best result for that patient.
Although surgery is often the best choice for our patients, occasionally the vets might utilise other options if the fracture type allows:
We very rarely apply casts to our patients. Although a cast can hold the pieces of bone in the correct alignment for the body to repair itself, there are many potential complications that can arise with their use. In human medicine we can follow instructions such as keep the cast dry, don’t bare weight on the cast and call back if you experience pins and needles or pain but our pets obviously don’t understand!
Cage rest: With some fractures it may be appropriate to allow the body time to heal on it’s own with activity restricted to prevent excessive movement of the fracture site.
Bandaging: If the fracture is less stable it may need the support of a bandage, with or without a splint in order to allow the animal to remain comfortable while healing takes place. Bandages need to be replaced regularly and so ideally animals will tolerate the bandages being changed without anaesthesia. Bandages are only effective for fractures of lower limb bones.
Amputation: as a last resort, for extreme fractures or when finances are prohibitive, amputation of the fractured limb might be considered. Pets manage incredibly well on three legs and are often home and exploring within a day of surgery.
At Towcester Veterinary Centre we use the highest standard of equipment and implants and our two surgeons are both members of the British Veterinary Orthopaedic Association (BVOA). This allows them to stay up to date with all the latest developments in veterinary orthopaedics.
What happens after surgery?
Your pet will go home as soon as they are stable, mobile, and no longer in need of intravenous treatment. Usually this is the day after surgery. Your pet will be sent home with all necessary medication to keep them comfortable and aid with their healing.
Importance of rest
After surgery it will be extremely important for your pet to be strictly rested, ideally in a cage, to allow the bone to heal. For the first few weeks your pet won’t feel much like moving but after the bruising has reduced and the skin has healed, most pets feel really good and don’t understand that they have to rest – this is when it gets challenging. Most fractures require 8-12 weeks rest. After 6-8 weeks we will re-radiograph your pet to assess healing and formulate a plan regarding exercise and possible implant removal.
Prognosis
The body’s ability to repair fractures amazes us regularly. It is our job as veterinary professionals to get the fractured bones in the right position to let the body get to work! Knowing your pet has a broken bone can be upsetting and worrying, but please be reassured that many of our patients are back to normal activity only weeks after a fracture. And we are very good at keeping your pets comfortable in the meantime!
Chat to our team today on 01327 350239.
