Stabilization of Fractures with the Use of Veterinary Interlocking
Nails
Adam Piórek*, Zbigniew Adamiak, Hubert Matyjasik
and Yauheni Zhalniarovich
Department of Surgery and Rentgenology, Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Oczapowskiego 14, 10-719 Olsztyn
*Corresponding author: piux@wp.pl
Abstract
Interlocking nails (ILN) are effective tools for
the fixation of long bone fractures, including humeral, femoral and tibial
fractures. An interlocking nails are a steel rods which are placed in medullary
canal of fractured bone. They have transverse openings which are use to put
inside a transcortical screws. Those screws block the nail relative to the main
bone fragments. Interlocking nails counteract all forces at the fractured site,
thus they are an alternative to bone plates. Simultaneously, the intramedullary
nail is placed in a natural position relative to the bone's biomechanical axis
and neutralizing bending forces across bone fragments. Unlike bone plates that
are eccentrically positioned, the nail has an intramedullary position which
makes it much more resistant to compressive, torsional and bending force. This
technique requires a relatively low surgeryical approach to compare with plate
osteosynthesis. Most importantly, interlocking nails support biological osteosyn-
thesis and fracture management with minimal surgeryical intervention.The first application in veterinary medicine of the interlocking nail was
at the late 1980s. Since this moment, the technique still evolves providing the
next generations of interlocking nails. At these days we have several
generations of it. This paper discusses the use of interlocking nails in
fracture stabilization in veterinary practice and overviews the development of
nail implants and their applications. The advantages of the analyzed technique
and the associated complications are discussed.
Key words:
Biological osteosynthesis, Bone healing complications,
Interlocking nails, Treatment of long bone fractures