Summary
Bone plating has been used as a method of fracture management for many years. Recently,
a trend toward the use of fracture fixation techniques which preserve the local fracture
environment, known as biological osteosynthesis, has evolved. This trend has resulted
in the development of a less traumatic method of bone plating referred to as minimally
invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO), or percutaneous plating. During MIPO fracture
stabilisation, plates are inserted through short incisions and a communicating epiperiosteal
tunnel. Typically, bone plates applied in this fashion have a bridging function. Promising
outcomes have been reported in human patients undergoing MIPO fracture stabilisation,
and limited reports of the use of this technique in dogs and cats have yielded positive
results as well. Careful case selection, pre-operative planning, and appropriate instrumentation
are necessary when performing the technique. Rapid time to union, low complication
rates and good return to function have been noted in human patients. Additional research
is needed to define selection criteria and outline the definitive benefits of MIPO
in dogs and cats.
Keywords
Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis - biological osteosynthesis