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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2021; 34(02): 079-084
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716434
Original Research

The Use of Intraoperative Skeletal Traction for the Repair of Pelvic Fractures: An Experimental Cadaveric Study

Alexandros Bourbos 
1   Surgical Department, Centro Veterinario Luni Mare, Ortonovo, Italy
,
Filippo Cinti 
1   Surgical Department, Centro Veterinario Luni Mare, Ortonovo, Italy
2   Eastocott Referrals, Swindon, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Fabiana Sergiampietri
1   Surgical Department, Centro Veterinario Luni Mare, Ortonovo, Italy
,
Guido Pisani
1   Surgical Department, Centro Veterinario Luni Mare, Ortonovo, Italy
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Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of intraoperative skeletal traction for the surgical repair of pelvic fractures. Opposition and anchorage points for the application of traction were the same in all cadavers.

Materials and Methods Cadavers from 10 adult dogs with a median body weight of 31.9 kg (range: 20–38 kg) were used. The fractures were experimentally created in all dogs to produce an oblique iliac fracture on the left side and a transverse fracture on the right (total of 20 fractures) at the same time. Dogs were positioned on an operating table in lateral recumbency and traction was applied first on the left side and then on the right after changing the position of the animal. Increasing amounts of traction were applied to each fracture and recorded until a distraction length of 2 cm was created between the bone fragments. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test confirmed normality of the data, and a paired t-test was used to compare traction of the two fracture types.

Results The measurement of traction and distraction of the bone fragments was possible in all fractures. A distraction of at least 2 cm was obtained with a mean peak traction force of 15.4 kg for transverse fractures and 18.6 kg for oblique fractures.

Conclusion Intraoperative skeletal traction provides a useful and reliable tool for the reduction in experimental oblique and transverse iliac fractures in dogs. There were strong correlations between body weight and the force required to obtain a distraction length of 2 cm in the fracture line; for oblique fractures, traction was related to the square of body weight, and for transverse fractures, the relationship between weight and required traction was near linear.

Keywords

intraoperative skeletal traction - pelvic fracture - repair - cadaveric study

Authors’ Contributions

All the authors conceptualized and designed the study. They acquired, analysed and interpreted the data, and drafted and approved the submitted manuscript. A.B. is accountable for content of the manuscript.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 18 February 2020

Accepted: 24 July 2020

Article published online:
07 October 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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