1ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India
2Training and Education Centre, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Pune-411 001, Maharashtra, India
3College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Meerut-250 110, Uttar Pradesh, India
*Corresponding Author: Hari Prasad Aithal, Training and Education Centre, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Pune-411 001, Maharashtra, India, Email: hpaithal@rediffmail.com
Online published on 13 February, 2023.
The metallic ESF systems are not easily available in the field and have fixed frames leading to less versatility in size and direction. Free forms of external skeletal fixators (acrylic and epoxy-pin) have advantages as they can be customized. Both acrylic and epoxy-pin ESF systems have been evaluated biomechanically in earlier studies; in the present study both are compared clinically.
Twenty four dogs presented with 27 fractures of long bones, were randomly divided into 4 groups, according to the bones involved, group A was divided into A-I (radius-ulna) and A-II (tibia-fibula) sub-groups and group B was divided into B-I (radius-ulna) and B-II (tibia-fibula) sub-groups.
The mean±SE fracture healing time in animals was 48.85±2.56 days with no significant difference between two groups.The early presented cases and the ones with less soft tissue trauma showed better gait scores during the follow up period. Both acrylic and epoxy-pin fixators provided stable fixation and the technique can be practiced at field conditions with minimal facilities. Epoxy-pin ESF owing to better handling characteristics of epoxy resin is easier to construct than the acrylic ESF.
Acrylic, Epoxy-pin, ESF, External skeletal fixators, Fracture, Minimally invasive fixation
