The humeri of eleven feline cadavers were dissected and safe anatomical areas for
placing external skeletal fixator pins were determined. Relevant measurements taken
of the humeral condyle enabled a determination of a safe pin diameter range of 1.5
to 2.2 mm for transcondylar pins. Further anatomical measurements allowed recommendations
to be made to angle pins in the distal humerus in a distolateral proximomedial direction
so that the ESF pin penetrates the far cortex at least 20 mm proximal to the medial
epicondyle in order to avoid pin penetration of the supracondylar foramen. Cross sections
taken of the distal humerus revealed that passage of an IM pin into the medial aspect
of the humeral condyle was possible in less than half the cases.
Keywords
Feline - humerus - external skeletal fixator - intramedullary pin