Mechanical Comparison of Fixation Methods and Clinical Outcomes of Femur and Tibia Fractures in Pet Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Sirun Tuek-um; Sontakan  Luangviset; Attapon Wisessint; Jirawat Srikulsalanukul; Chaiyakorn Thitiyanaporn

Authors

Sirun Tuek-um Orthopedic unit, Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Sontakan Luangviset Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Attapon Wisessint Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Jirawat Srikulsalanukul Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
Chaiyakorn Thitiyanaporn Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-6111

Keywords:

Long bone fracture, Fixation method, Pet rabbits, 3D-printed model, Mechanical study

Abstract

Long bone fracture in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a common orthopedic problem seen in clinics, with a high incidence of femur and tibia fractures. The selection of the fracture fixation method is important for successful treatment. This study presents a mechanical comparison of fixation methods and the signalment, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of femur and tibia fracture fixation over a 15-year period at Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Thailand. The mechanical study was performed using femur and tibia 3D-printed models with different fixation methods including paraosseous clamp–cerclage stabilization (PCCS), bone plate and screws (BPS), and external skeletal fixation (ESF). Medical records of femur and tibia fractures in pet rabbits from 2008 to 2023 were collected. The data analysis included signalment, affected bone, fracture type, fracture etiology, duration from fracture to fixation, fixation method, complications, and healing time. ESF had the highest maximum resistance for femur and tibia fracture fixation. Thirty-one femur and fifty-three tibia fractures were analyzed in this study. Most of the femur fractures were fixed using PCCS, while the tibia fractures were fixed using the ESF method. The selection of the fixation method depended on many factors. Most long bone fractures in pet rabbits were successfully healed after fixation.

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