Computer‐assisted surgery for placing toggle constructs across the coxofemoral joints of small equids using a minimally invasive approach–A proof‐of‐concept cadaveric study

Objective:To develop a minimally invasive technique for placing a toggle construct across the coxofemoral joint of small equids using computer‐assisted surgery.Study designExperimental cadaveric study.Sample populationThree pilot specimens: One donkey, one Shetland pony and one Warmblood foal. Six main study specimens: Three Shetland ponies, one American Miniature Horse, one Warmblood foal and one donkey.MethodsExperimental surgeries were performed on both coxofemoral joints of each cadaver. Using a minimally invasive surgical approach, 5.5 mm bone canals were drilled through the femur and acetabulum, traversing the coxofemoral joint. Intraoperative guidance was provided by a cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT)‐coupled surgical navigation system. A toggle construct was introduced through the bone canals. Surgical accuracy aberrations (SAA) were measured at the femoral entry and exit points and at the acetabular entry point on merged pre‐ and postoperative CBCT scans. The coxofemoral joint was assessed for articular cartilage damage by gross dissection.ResultsA toggle construct was placed across all 18 coxofemoral joints. The overall median SAA in the main study was 2.8 mm (range: 0.4–8.0 mm). No cartilage damage was found in the cadaveric specimens of the main study.ConclusionThe described technique allowed for the placement of a toggle construct across the coxofemoral joint of small equid cadaveric specimens without prior coxofemoral luxation.Clinical relevanceThis technique may serve as an option for surgical stabilization of coxofemoral joints in small equids. Further biomechanical investigations are required to assess optimal implant positioning and toggle constructs

Computer-assisted surgery for placing toggle constructs across the coxofemoral joints of small equids using a minimally invasive approach-A proof-of-concept cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVE To develop a minimally invasive technique for placing a toggle construct across the coxofemoral joint of small equids using computer-assisted surgery. STUDY DESIGN Experimental cadaveric study. SAMPLE POPULATION Three pilot specimens: One donkey, one Shetland pony and one Warmblood foal. Six main study specimens: Three Shetland ponies, one American Miniature Horse, one Warmblood foal and one donkey. METHODS Experimental surgeries were performed on both coxofemoral joints of each cadaver. Using a minimally invasive surgical approach, 5.5 mm bone canals were drilled through the femur and acetabulum, traversing the coxofemoral joint. Intraoperative guidance was provided by a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-coupled surgical navigation system. A toggle construct was introduced through the bone canals. Surgical accuracy aberrations (SAA) were measured at the femoral entry and exit points and at the acetabular entry point on merged pre- and postoperative CBCT scans. The coxofemoral joint was assessed for articular cartilage damage by gross dissection. RESULTS A toggle construct was placed across all 18 coxofemoral joints. The overall median SAA in the main study was 2.8 mm (range: 0.4-8.0 mm). No cartilage damage was found in the cadaveric specimens of the main study. CONCLUSION The described technique allowed for the placement of a toggle construct across the coxofemoral joint of small equid cadaveric specimens without prior coxofemoral luxation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This technique may serve as an option for surgical stabilization of coxofemoral joints in small equids. Further biomechanical investigations are required to assess optimal implant positioning and toggle constructs

Modified toggle pin technique combined with prosthetic capsular reconstruction for surgical stabilization of coxofemoral luxation in a Shetland pony

Objective To describe open reduction and surgical stabilization of a coxofemoral luxation in a pony using a modified toggle pin technique and prosthetic joint capsule reconstruction without osteotomy of the greater trochanter. Animal A 2-year-old Shetland pony with a bodyweight of 167 kg. Study design Case report. Methods Radiographic examination confirmed craniodorsal luxation of the left coxofemoral joint. An open reduction with the aid of a pulley system was performed. A toggle pin was inserted through a bone tunnel extending from the level of the femoral shaft through the femoral head and the center of the acetabulum for the pin to be positioned on the medial wall of the acetabulum. FiberWire was subsequently passed through the cranial and caudal aspects of the acetabulum as well as a transverse tunnel in the femoral neck in a figure of 8 to facilitate capsular reconstruction. The pony was placed in a sling for 8 weeks and gradually returned to normal activity over 2 months. Results Postoperative radiographic examination confirmed the position of the femoral head in the acetabulum with the implants in place. On 2-year follow-up the pony was sound at walk and trot. Conclusion A combined intra- and extra-articular stabilization technique for coxofemoral luxation in a pony resulted in successful long-term reduction and excellent outcome

Modified toggle pin technique combined with prosthetic capsular reconstruction for surgical stabilization of coxofemoral luxation in a Shetland pony

Objective To describe open reduction and surgical stabilization of a coxofemoral luxation in a pony using a modified toggle pin technique and prosthetic joint capsule reconstruction without osteotomy of the greater trochanter. Animal A 2-year-old Shetland pony with a bodyweight of 167 kg. Study design Case report. Methods Radiographic examination confirmed craniodorsal luxation of the left coxofemoral joint. An open reduction with the aid of a pulley system was performed. A toggle pin was inserted through a bone tunnel extending from the level of the femoral shaft through the femoral head and the center of the acetabulum for the pin to be positioned on the medial wall of the acetabulum. FiberWire was subsequently passed through the cranial and caudal aspects of the acetabulum as well as a transverse tunnel in the femoral neck in a figure of 8 to facilitate capsular reconstruction. The pony was placed in a sling for 8 weeks and gradually returned to normal activity over 2 months. Results Postoperative radiographic examination confirmed the position of the femoral head in the acetabulum with the implants in place. On 2-year follow-up the pony was sound at walk and trot. Conclusion A combined intra- and extra-articular stabilization technique for coxofemoral luxation in a pony resulted in successful long-term reduction and excellent outcome

Die Obwegeser-Cerclagen-Technik für die Behandlung von Kieferfrakturen beim Pferd: Eine retrospektive Studie an 46 Fällen (1987–2010)

Skull fractures, particularly mandibular fractures, are the second most common fractures in horses after limb fractures. The majority of mandibular fractures involves its most rostral part, i.e. the pars incisiva. Like other head fractures, those of the jaws are commonly caused by a blunt external trauma such as a kick from another horse, a fall or a collision with a solid object. Rostral fractures can also occur when horses get caught between vertical metal bars in the stall: the horse bites the bar with its head tilted towards a slightly horizontal position and then suddenly pulls back its head together with a vertical movement of the head, while the teeth remain lodged between the metal bars. In rare cases jaw fractures occuriatrogenically following dental treatment or due to pathological alteration of the bone in case of neoplasia or chronic osteomyelitis. In the majority of cases jaw fractures are open toward the oral cavity and may be severely contaminated. Unstable, bilateral or dislocated fractures which lead to impaired occlusion need surgical intervention. Intraoral wiring is one of the fixation techniques used, depending on the fracture configuration. The Obwegeser multiple-loop intraoral wiring method is particularly suited for fixation of avulsion fractures of the incisors because teeth can be fixed individually, the tension can be distributed evenly among different teeth and the fixation can be extended across a wide area. This method is very suitable for fixation of rostral jaw fractures. It can also be used in combination with other fixation techniques, e.g. plate osteosynthesis, to provide additional stability on the tension side of a fractured mandible and incisor bone. This retrospective study examined 46 patients with jaw fractures that were fixed using the Obwegeser wiring method alone (n=31) or in conjunction with another fixation method (n=15). Medical records, repeated radiological examinations and telephone interviews with the owners were used to gather information about clinical signs on presentation, type of fracture fixation, the healing process, short and long term complications, time of removal of the wires and owner satisfaction with the surgical outcome. The following clinical signs were found with the initial examination: oral haemorrhage (n=28), dysphagia (n=24) and local swelling (n=21). 23 horses suffered from malocclusion and in 5 of 46 patients crepitation was obvious. In 20 cases (43%) the fracture was older than 24 hours at the time of presentation to the hospital. Forty (87%) of the fractures were open. Cases that were fixed using the Obwegeser wiring method alone had a lower complication rate (11/31, 35%) than cases in which wiring was used in conjunction with another fixation method (12/15, 80%). In most cases the fracture could be repaired in the standing horse using sedation and local anaesthesia. An orthopaedic stainless steel wire with a diameter of 1.25 mm was used for cerclage. Wires used alone were left in place for an average of 10 weeks (mean 10.0 and SD±5.8) and those used in addition to another fixation method for an average of 16 weeks (mean 16.0 and SD±8.9). No further complications associated with the fracture occurred in 31 (93%) of the 33 cases that had long-term follow-up information. The fact that in 20 cases (43%) the fracture was older than 24 hours at the time of presentation to the hospital shows that jaw fractures are commonly not recognized immediately or are underestimated by owners or referring veterinarians. The lower complication rate in the 31 cases treated with the Obwegeser wiring method alone may be explained by the lower complexity of the fractures, the intra- versus the extraoral position of the implants and thereby no possible interference of the implant with fracture healing, and the reduced amount of implant material. This study shows that the inexpensive and relatively simple Obwegeser method is a very suitable method for fixation of rostral jaw fractures in the horse