Early Clinical Experience with a Newly Designed Interlocking Nail System—Targon^® Vet

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe early clinical experience with a newly designed interlocking nail system (Targon(®) Vet) in diaphyseal fractures in cats and small dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Client-owned cats (n=49) and dogs (n=8). METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive cases (49 cats, 8 dogs) with 60 long bone fractures were included in the study. Follow-up radiographs were scheduled at 4 and 8 weeks and again 6 months postoperatively. The end point for each case was determined radiographically by a healed fracture. Complications were defined as minor or major. Clinical outcome was subjectively assessed by a full orthopedic examination and follow-up radiographs. Descriptive data are reported. RESULTS: Median age of cats was 18 months (range, 3-220 months) and of dogs was 28 months (range, 7-115 months). Median body weight was 3.7 kg (range, 1.67-8.41 kg) for cats and 8.15 kg (range, 2.68-13.6 kg) for dogs. Median radiographic follow-up was 16 weeks. All fractures with follow-up radiographs available (n=46) were healed with no infections reported. A total of 12 postoperative complications occurred: 3 minor (slippage of the locking screws) and 9 major (5 femoral-irritation of the sciatic nerve, stress protection, fracture because of a missed fissure, femoral neck fracture, intra-operative revision with a rod and plate; 4 tibial-3 with protrusion of the distal locking screw through the skin and 1 with in-growth of the intramedullary nail). CONCLUSION: Implantation of the Targon(®) Vet System was feasible in all cases. It provides an alternative system for diaphyseal fracture repair in cats and small dogs.