Fracture treatment (osteosynthesis)
Surgical fixation of broken bones in dogs and cats after injuries: from stabilising the patient and X-ray, through surgery with an implant, to checking that the bone has healed. During opening hours we see patients without a referral — call before you come.
Mon–Fri 9–19, Sat 9–13 · tel. +48 74 660 62 68. Outside opening hours, on Sundays and on public holidays, the nearest 24-hour animal hospitals are SKVet Klinika Weterynaryjna (ul. Stabłowicka 109b, Wrocław, tel. 791 998 999) and Klinika Psa i Kota (ul. B. Krzywoustego 105/22, 51-166 Wrocław, tel. 71 339 82 48).
What it involves
Osteosynthesis is the surgical fixation of a broken bone with an implant — a plate and screws, an intramedullary pin, wires or an external fixator — so that the fragments are aligned and held still while the bone heals. In dogs and cats a cast works only in a few fractures below the elbow and knee; in most cases internal stabilisation gives faster and more reliable healing and allows early use of the limb.
We choose the type of implant according to the bone, the type of fracture (simple, comminuted, open) and the age and weight of the animal. In kittens and puppies we take the growth plates into account. The aim is not only healing, but preserving the correct axis and length of the limb and the mobility of the neighbouring joints.
A fracture is almost always part of a larger injury (being hit by a car, a fall from a height), so before we deal with the bone we assess the chest, abdomen and nervous system.
When it is used
Any suspected fracture after an injury needs urgent assessment during the practice's opening hours — call before you come; we see patients without a referral. The operation itself rarely has to take place immediately; more often we first stabilise the patient (fluids, pain relief, oxygen, temporary immobilisation) and plan the fixation within 1–3 days, when the general condition allows.
Open fractures and fractures with damage to blood vessels or nerves need immediate intervention.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- A dog has been hit by a car and will not stand on a leg that is deformed or “hanging”.
- A cat has fallen from a balcony and has a swollen, painful limb or cannot walk.
- A limb is bent unnaturally and a grating sound can be heard when it is touched.
- Bone can be seen through the skin or a wound over the fracture is bleeding — an open fracture, immediate help is needed.
- After an injury the animal is breathing fast and shallowly and has pale gums — it is in shock, come straight away.
- A small dog jumped off the sofa and has held a front leg up ever since.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
On admission, following triage, we first assess breathing, circulation and consciousness. We take digital X-rays of the chest and perform an abdominal ultrasound (FAST) to look for pneumothorax, internal bleeding and a ruptured bladder — only then an X-ray of the limb itself in two projections. Blood tests (blood count, biochemistry) show the degree of blood loss and the condition of the kidneys.
Based on the images we plan the type and size of the implant. Before anaesthesia the patient undergoes pre-anaesthetic assessment in line with standard STD-01, and in patients after chest trauma we also repeat the X-ray before the operation.
How it proceeds
The patient is hospitalised and receives fluids, pain relief (STD-04) and temporary immobilisation. We perform the operation under general anaesthesia with full monitoring (STD-02), after preparing the field in line with the rules of asepsis (STD-05) and going through the procedure checklist (STD-03). Depending on the fracture, the procedure takes from 60 minutes to 3 hours. We reduce the fragments, fix them with an implant and check the axis and the mobility of the joints; with open fractures we first clean and flush the wound thoroughly.
After the procedure we take a check X-ray. The patient wakes up in the in-patient hospital with warming and pain control and usually stays for 1–2 days; the extent of overnight supervision is determined by the lead veterinarian.
Aftercare
At home: strict restriction of activity for 6–8 weeks (a crate or a small room, walks on a lead only for toilet needs, cats not allowed outdoors), a collar until the stitches are removed, and medication according to the schedule. Check-up after 10–14 days, X-ray of the healing after 4–6 weeks, and earlier in young animals. Implants usually stay in permanently; an external fixator is removed after the bone has healed.
Call us urgently if the limb suddenly swells, the wound starts to weep, the animal stops using a leg it was using before, or a fever develops.
Frequently asked questions
Can a fracture in a dog be treated with a cast?
Only some simple fractures below the knee or elbow in young animals. Casts in animals often cause complications (pressure sores, failure of the bone to heal), so in most cases we recommend surgical fixation.
How soon after an injury does surgery need to be done?
First we stabilise the patient — this is more important than the bone itself. We usually plan the fixation within 1–3 days; the exception is open fractures, which we treat as soon as possible.
Do you see patients outside opening hours?
No — we work Mon–Fri 9:00–19:00 and Sat 9:00–13:00. Outside these hours, go to a 24-hour animal hospital in Wrocław; once stabilised, the patient can come back to us for the fixation.
Will the bone heal well enough for the dog to walk normally?
That is the aim of the fixation, and in most cases it happens. Healing does, however, depend on the type of fracture, the animal's age, and whether the restriction of activity was kept up at home.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Have questions about fracture treatment?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.