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Case 18: Spiral fracture of tibial shaft

publication date: Aug 8, 2008
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‘ELLIE' Labrador, Chocolate, Female, 06/10/06.
 Roundhurst, Haslemere, Surrey

09/ 01/ 07 ; Emergency Acute lameness Right hind, whilst out on 1st walk. Sedate to x-ray = Spiral fracture of tibial shaft. Applied Robert Jones dressing to support, until surgery tomorrow. Hospitalised.

10/01/07 ; GA Repair fracture, medial approach, 2 x screws + cerclage wire, Robert Jones dressing. Inj Ceporex. Hospitalised.

11/01/07; Hospitalise inj Ceporex

12/01/07 ; inj Ceporex, Home with cage Ceporex 250mg 1 BID.

18/01/07 ; Sedate to redress & check x-ray, good callus forming around fracture site.

29/01/07 ; Sedate to redress & x-ray, doing very well, ½ sutures out, ½ size dressing.

05/02/07 ; remove dressing.

Top of thigh; Right = 28 cm Left = 31 cm.
Stifle; Right = 18.5 cm Left = 29 cm
Hock; Right =14 cm Left = 14cm

 

DATE SESSION
NUMBER
SPEED
(k/h)
DURATION
(MINUTES)
NOTES
         
06/02/07 1 3.0 6

Holding leg up, ? habit. Very excitable! Tends to wobble on leg if wags tail too much! Right anterior hock = some swelling and joint fixation in slight extension advise gentle massage to loosen up.

08/02/07 2 3.0
3.2
3.4
3.2
2
2
4
2
Owner been massaging hock, already looks less fixed.
Very excitable! Leg movement appears less wobbly & more controlled.
12/02/07 3 3.0
3.2
3.4
3.2
1
5
4
2
Very good placing of foot, more controlled, weight bearing very well, stifle & hock still fixed but better, already visible muscle build up.
14/02/07 4 3.0
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.4
1
4
3
2
3
Fantastic!
16/02/07 5 3.0
3.4
3.6
3.4
1
2
3
2
Stifle ;Right = 22.0 cm (was 18.5cm) Left 27.5 cm(was 29.0cm)
Thigh ; Right = 30.0 cm (was28.0 cm) Left = 31.0 cm (was31.0cm)
Angle of flexion of hock ; Right = 55degree Left = 65degree
19/02/07 6 3.4
5.2
3.2
7
2 (trotting)
2
Still has tendency to rotate stifle & hock laterally when walking, but not as severely, nice movement on trot.
21/02/07 7 3.4
5.2
3.4
4
4 (trotting)
4
MAD! Very, very lively & bouncy, jumping up without problem although not ideal!
On trot (fantastic front end movement - dead straight), very slight lateral rotation of foot only, still slightly stiff gait, but much improved.
23/02/07 8 3.4
5.2
3.4
3
5 (trotting)
4
 
26/02/07 9 3.6
3.4
7
3 (1st incline)
01/03/07 10 3.6
3.4
7
3 (1st incline)
05/03/07 11 3.6
5.2
3.6
5
3 (trotting)
4 (1st incline)


08/03/07 ; Sedate to x-ray right hind, Leg looks normal! Healed amazingly well, callus resorbed.

Stifle ; Right = 23.5 cm (was 22.0cm) Left = 28.0cm (was 27.5cm)
Hock ; Right = 15.5 cm (was 14.0cm) Left = 15.5 cm (was 14.0 cm)
Flexion of hock ; Right = 65 degree Left = 65 degree EVEN!

As doing so well advise try normal exercise 20 -30 minutes 2 x daily + off lead running, re-ex 2 weeks or before if owner worried.

24/03/07; Check up, Ellie has made an amazing recovery, the leg is fully muscled up, and she is walking normally, the recovery, I am sure was hastened by the use of the treadmill. It is almost (apart from the shorter hair) impossible to tell she had suffered an injury!