FASAVA Congress 2017

A discussion of challenging fractures with approaches to planning and management reviewed.
The veterinary orthopaedist is often faced with the “nightmare” fracture scenario. Most of us can recall in great detail, horrendous fractures that have challenged us. This forum will be an attempt to share some of those challenges, the strategies that were used to overcome them and what was learned in the process. The focus will be a case based review of ways to plan and manage the complex fracture, particularly those with complicating features such as joint involvement, loss of soft tissue envelope or being open. There are many options now available to the orthopod to manage such fractures and often surgeon preference and experience are the guiding influences for choice of fracture repair. New methods and technologies have evolved over the past several decades and every surgeon has their preference depending on the situation.  The various advantages and disadvantages of each option for management will be reviewed including locking plate technology which has more recently been added to the arsenal of implant strategies to manage the complex fracture.