Use of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for tibial diaphyseal fracture in three dogs

Three dogs were presented with diaphyseal fracture of the tibia following separate motor vehicle accidents. On physical and orthopedic examinations, the dogs were noted to have soft-tissue swelling and a closed fracture in these tibia sites. Radiographs revealed a simple, short oblique fracture (case 1), a comminuted, spiral fracture (case 2), and a simple, spiral fracture (case 3) in tibia. Minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) using a veterinary cuttable plate or locking plate was applied for the treatment of these fractures. The surgery was successful, and the fractures healed without any complications by 7 weeks (case 1), 10 weeks (case 2) and 8 weeks (case 3) after surgery. Our patients showed fast bone healing times and early weight-bearing during the treatment of their tibia fractures. Therefore, MIPO was a useful procedure for diaphyseal fracture of the tibia in veterinary orthopedics.