Safety and Accuracy of Minimally Invasive Long Bone Fracture Repair Using a 2.5-mm Interlocking Nail: A Cadaveric Feline Study

摘要

Objectives The Targon Vet System (TVS) is a 2.5-mm interlocking nail that can be applied minimally invasively. The purpose of this study was to test if the TVS could be safely applied percutaneously to different feline long bones without fluoroscopic guidance. Methods A gap fracture was created in 96 feline humeri, femora and tibiae ( n = 32/group). Paired bones were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: (1) TVS inserted percutaneously with fluoroscopy and (2) TVS inserted percutaneously without fluoroscopy. Intraoperative evaluation (complications, procedure time, attempts), radiographs (pre-/postoperative alignment, length) and anatomical dissection (neurovascular injury, rotational alignment) were compared between treatment groups. Results The use of fluoroscopy did not lead to significant differences in any of the outcome measures. Intraoperative complications predominantly occurred in the distal humerus (12/32) and the proximal femur (7/32). In total, 20/96 complications occurred with no complications for the tibia. Neurovascular structures were only damaged at the medial side of the distal humerus (10/32).