Summary
Sixteen animals with thoracic and lumbar fracture/luxations were treated with an external
bracing system. The splint design and the method of application are described along
with the complications seen. All of the animals recovered acceptable function, although
six had residual neurologic deficits. Biomechanical testing of the splint revealed
sufficient strength to limit angular deformation at a bending moment of 40 Nm. This
approximates calculated in vivo bending moments for a large paralysed dog. Principles for closed reduction and external
bracing of thoracic and lumbar injuries are presented.
External coaptation was used in the reduction and fixation of 16 animals with thoracic
and lumbar fracture/luxations. This spinal bracing system is described and principles
of its application are presented. An experimental bending test was employed to test
the hypothesis that the splint could effectively limit angulation at calculated in vivo bending moments.
Keywords
Spinal fracture/luxation - backsplinting - bending test - biomechanics