Comparison of tibial alignment following bent or straight interlocking nail fixation for dogs with diaphyseal tibial fractures
🔍 Key Findings
- Straight interlocking nails (sILN) resulted in a significantly higher postoperative TPA compared with the contralateral limb (+5°), whereas bent nails (bILN) increased TPA by only +1°.
- Bent interlocking nails achieved closer-to-anatomic tibial plateau alignment than straight nails (p < .0001).
- Both techniques resulted in mild valgus malalignment (~2°) compared with the contralateral limb, but this was not clinically significant.
- No significant differences in medial mechanical proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) were detected between groups.
- Medullary canal fill was higher with bent nails (by ~6.6%), suggesting improved coaxial nail placement.
- Missed bolt hole frequency did not differ between straight and bent nail techniques.
- Complication rates were very low, with only one clinically relevant malalignment reported in the bent nail group.
- Despite higher TPA in the straight nail group, no increased incidence of CCL rupture was identified during follow-up.
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🔍 Key Findings
- Straight interlocking nails (sILN) resulted in a significantly higher postoperative TPA compared with the contralateral limb (+5°), whereas bent nails (bILN) increased TPA by only +1°.
- Bent interlocking nails achieved closer-to-anatomic tibial plateau alignment than straight nails (p < .0001).
- Both techniques resulted in mild valgus malalignment (~2°) compared with the contralateral limb, but this was not clinically significant.
- No significant differences in medial mechanical proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) were detected between groups.
- Medullary canal fill was higher with bent nails (by ~6.6%), suggesting improved coaxial nail placement.
- Missed bolt hole frequency did not differ between straight and bent nail techniques.
- Complication rates were very low, with only one clinically relevant malalignment reported in the bent nail group.
- Despite higher TPA in the straight nail group, no increased incidence of CCL rupture was identified during follow-up.
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