Ch 60 - Fractures of the Femur Flashcards
Which bone is most commonly affected by osteomyelitis and nonunion?
Femur
Describe the AO fracture classification system
Each bone has a number (femur = 3)
Second number denoted relative position of the fracture within the bone
- 1 = proximal
- 2 = shaft
- 3 = distal
Described with respect to its morphology
- A = Single fracture
- B = Wedge or butterfly
- C = Complex
Final number corresponding to severity and prognosis
- 1 = good to excellent
- 2 = moderate severity, guarded to good prognosis
- 3 = severe, guarded to poor prognosis
What are the main forms of proximal intracapsular fractures?
Extracapsular?
Intracapsular
- epiphyseal
- physeal
- subcapital
- transcervical
Extracapsular
- basilar neck
- intertrochanteric
- subtrochanteric
Where is the highest strain density observed in the femoral neck?
Most medial and distal portion
What is the normal angle of inclination?
130 - 145 degrees
What is the normal angle of anteversion?
27 - 32 degrees
What muscles attach to the greater trochanter?
Middle and deep gluteal muscles
Piriformis muscles
Where is the lesser trochanter in relation to the femoral neck?
What muscle attached here?
- Distal and caudomedial
- Iliopsoas
Represents the distal limit of the metaphysis
Where is the third trochanter located in relation to the greater trochanter?
What muscles attach here?
- distal
- superficial gluteal muscle
What muscle attach at the intertrochanteric fossa?
- Internal and external obturator
- Gemelli
What are the three subdivision of the proximal blood supply?
What does each subdivision include?
Extraosseous
- lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries
- caudal and cranial gluteal arteries
- iliolumbar artery
- Caudal gluteal and circumflex arteries anastomose to form vascular ring at base of femoral neck
Intracapsular
- Arise from vascular ring, penetrate joint capsule at distal attachment and course subsynovially along craniodistal femoral neck
- Anastomose near capital physis to form intracapsule vascular vascular ring
- Branches off ring penetrate the physis and give rist to intraosseous arcuate network
Intraosseous
- Branches of caudal gluteal and medial circumflex penetrate the floor of the trochanteric fossa and create intraosseous network
In dogs, the artery of the ligament of the head of the femur does NOT contribute to epiphyseal blood supply. This is in contrast to the cat
How much of the femoral longitudinal growth is from the femoral capital physis and the trochanteric physis?
At what age do they close?
- Capital physis 25%
- Trochanteric physis 0%
- Closure in dogs begins at 6 months, complete 9-12m
- Closure in cats 7-10m
What is the Gorman approach to the proximal femur?
Dorsal approach via osteotomy of the greater trochanter
List some unique biologic and mechanical features of proximal femoral fractures which can make it challenging
- Concurrent trauma to fragile vascular network
- Residual growth potential of capital physis
- Eccentric loading of femoral head
- limited bone stock for stabilisation
- potential articular surface involvement
What approach should be considered for fractures of the capital epiphysis?
Ventral approach
- Avoids requirement to transect ligament of the head of the femur which can contribute to instability
How often is concurrent separation of the trochanteric physis seen with capital physeal fractures?
11 - 15%
What sized K-wires are appropriate for cats and most small-medium dogs?
How many should be placed?
In what orientation?
- 0.7 - 1.6mm diameter
- minimim of 2 pins, no more than three
- Pin should be parallel to each other (allows forces to be distribulted equally, normal loading of growth plate and dynamic compression of the fracture
2 pins shown to be as strong as intach femoral neck in one study (weaker in another). Addition of a third pin increases strength by 29%
What structures can be used to guide epiphyseal femoral head pin placement?
- Pins located within the center of the epiphysis can be safetly advanced a distance equal to 75-80% of the contralateral epiphysis or width of the pubic bone
- Eccentrically placed should only be advanced to 65%
What percentage of dogs are reported to have a moderate to poor outcome after a FHO?
20%
What is capital physeal dysplasia?
What animals are overrepresented?
Spontaneous seperation of the capital physis in animals after timely physeal closure
- Young, overweight, castrated-males cats overrepresented