Abstract
Objectives The purpose of this study was to report the clinical outcomes of traumatic appendicular
bone injuries treated with supercutaneous plating.
Methods We conducted a retrospective case series of medical records following fracture fixation
using locking implants with a supercutaneous plating technique. Inclusion criteria
comprised a complete clinical and radiographical follow-up until implant removal.
Patient history and signalment as well as fracture configuration were recorded.
Results Five appendicular long bone fractures (3 radii, 2 tibiae) were included in the study
and they were all treated using conical coupling locking plates. The patient mean
age was 2.3 years (range: 0.3–5.8 years) and the mean body weight 16.5 kg (range:
3–27 kg).
One major (implant failure) and minor complications (delayed bone union and iatrogenic
recurvatum deformity) were detected. The removal of the plates was quick and did not
require general anaesthesia. All five fractures treated healed and patients were sound
at final follow-up. Neither discomfort nor pain were noticed during the postoperative
patient management.
Clinical Significance The advantages related to the minimally invasive approach and implant removal could
make the supercutaneous plating (SCP) an alternative to the traditional external skeletal
fixation.
Further clinical investigations are required before definitive treatment recommendations
using this technique can be made. In consideration of some of the complications detected,
the use of fluoroscopy is recommended to support the surgeon at the beginning of their
SCP learning curve.
Keywords
supercutaneous plating - locking plate - minimally invasive osteosynthesis - appendicular
fracture - dog
