Use of the FESSA (Fixateur Externe du Service de Santé des Armées) for Treatment of Long Bone Fracture in Dogs and Cats

Introduction: The FESSA is an external fixator device designed in the 80s by the French army. It is composed of multiperforated cylindrical tubes intended for the passage of pins implanted in the bone, and flat-bottomed screws securing the pins directly to the tube. This study aimed to evaluate long bone fracture repair with FESSA in dogs and cats.

Materials and Methods: Medical records of dogs and cats treated for long bone fractures stabilized with FESSA were analyzed.

Results: Eleven juvenile animals were treated for closed tibial fractures. The mean time for removal of the FESSA was 30.2 days (16–46). Results were excellent (n = 10) and good (n = 1). Six adult animals were treated for closed fractures of the tibia (n = 3) and radius (n = 3). The mean time for removal of the FESSA was 55.8 days (42–75). Results were excellent (n = 4) and good (n = 2). Eleven animals were treated for open fractures of the tibia (n = 8) and radius (n = 3). Progression of infection led to euthanasia (n = 1) or amputation (n = 1).

Replacement of the FESSA with plate after infection management was needed in four cases. The mean time for removal of the FESSA was 82.2 days (46–122) in the other five cases. Results were excellent (n = 3), good (n = 2), and poor (n = 6).

Discussion/Conclusion: Results and time to removal of the FESSA were consistent with other studies and other external fixators. Complications and poor results obtained in some of our cases for open fractures were related to infection and pseudarthrosis but not to the FESSA construct failure.

Acknowledgments: None.

Publication History

Article published online:
11 September 2023