A High Commitment Team Dedicated to Caring for Your Pet
CASE #9
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Skippy
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Skippy is a 3-month-old female rat terrier with a great disposition.
Unfortunately accidents happen, and puppies seem to get into more
than their share of trouble. She came to Lexington Boulevard Animal
Hospital this month when she was unable to put any weight on her right
hind limb. With some careful handling and a quick x-ray, the doctors
at Lexington were able to determine that Skippy had a fractured tibia
(shin bone). While there are many ways to treat broken bones, Skippy's fracture would require special attention. A spiral fracture of this type in a very active little terrier must be completely stabilized before the body can begin to heal the leg. Only surgery would provide the best prognosis. An "external fixator" comprised of six bone pins and a stabilizing bar would be plenty to hold the bone fragments in place for 6 to 8 weeks while the fracture healed. During surgery a pain patch was applied, allowing a continuous supply of Fentanyl over the course of the next three days. As a result, the entire procedure was virtually pain free. In fact, Skippy felt well enough to eat the same night and put some weight on the leg for the first time in days! External fixators are one method of stabilizing bone fractures that would otherwise be difficult to manage. While their application does require anesthesia, the pins are inserted through tiny holes to eliminate the need for stitches and to preserve the bone's valuable blood supply. In addition, they are generally quite comfortable compared to older surgical techniques and casts. I think Skippy would agree that Lexington Animal Hospital helped her family to make the best of a bad situation! |
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2627 Cordes Drive Sugar Land, Texas 77479 24-Hour Emergency Care for Our Clients Phone:(281) 980-3737 Fax: (281) 265-5584 Email:info@lexingtonpethospital.com |
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