Treatment options, complications and long-term outcomes for limb fractures in pet rabbits.
fracture
orthopaedics
rabbit
radiography
trauma
Journal
The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
Titre abrégé: Vet Rec
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0031164
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Feb 2023
Feb 2023
Historique:
revised:
06
09
2022
received:
18
02
2022
accepted:
28
09
2022
pubmed:
10
11
2022
medline:
7
2
2023
entrez:
9
11
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Limb fractures represent the most common orthopaedic disease in pet rabbits. However, only a few studies have evaluated therapeutic details of limb fractures. There are no data available for long-term outcomes of limb fracture treatment. The medical records of six institutions were reviewed retrospectively to identify cases of traumatic limb bone fractures in pet rabbits between 1999 and 2020. The medical records (n = 387) were analysed for details of fracture prevalence, aetiology, therapy protocols, treatment complications, outcome and long-term effects. In addition to the retrospective data evaluation, 13 rabbits were re-evaluated in person in recent clinical analyses, including orthopaedic examination, radiography and computed-tomographic imaging. Details of long-term effects of fracture treatment were requested over the telephone for a further 232 animals using a standardised questionnaire. Long bone fractures accounted for the majority of all fractures (296/387; 76.5%). Hindlimb fractures (301/387; 77.7%) were more common than forelimb fractures (86/387; 22.2%), and tibial fractures and combined fractures of the tibia and fibula (119/387; 30.8%) were observed most frequently. Most fracture treatments were based on osteosynthesis procedures (243/328; 74.1%). Treatment complications occurred in 130 out of 328 (39.6%) cases. A high bodyweight (p = 0.047) and an older age (p = 0.01) were found to be significant risk factors for the emergence of therapy complications. Overall, 75.4% of animals (175/232) had a satisfactory long-term outcome. Limb posture anomalies were evaluated in 61 cases (26.3%). The multi-centre approach led to the inclusion of various institutions, veterinarians, treatment protocols and rabbit populations that might have influenced the results. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively, so there were some data that were lacking or could not be collected in a standardised manner. Furthermore, rabbit owners' evaluation of long-term outcomes might be prone to error, despite the use of a standardised interview questionnaire. Limb fractures are a common orthopaedic issue in pet rabbits. The patient's bodyweight and age are significant risk factors for the emergence of complications during the fracture treatment process. Long-term orthopaedic effects, such as abnormal limb posture and permanent lameness of the affected limb, were observed regularly.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Limb fractures represent the most common orthopaedic disease in pet rabbits. However, only a few studies have evaluated therapeutic details of limb fractures. There are no data available for long-term outcomes of limb fracture treatment.
METHODS
METHODS
The medical records of six institutions were reviewed retrospectively to identify cases of traumatic limb bone fractures in pet rabbits between 1999 and 2020. The medical records (n = 387) were analysed for details of fracture prevalence, aetiology, therapy protocols, treatment complications, outcome and long-term effects. In addition to the retrospective data evaluation, 13 rabbits were re-evaluated in person in recent clinical analyses, including orthopaedic examination, radiography and computed-tomographic imaging. Details of long-term effects of fracture treatment were requested over the telephone for a further 232 animals using a standardised questionnaire.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Long bone fractures accounted for the majority of all fractures (296/387; 76.5%). Hindlimb fractures (301/387; 77.7%) were more common than forelimb fractures (86/387; 22.2%), and tibial fractures and combined fractures of the tibia and fibula (119/387; 30.8%) were observed most frequently. Most fracture treatments were based on osteosynthesis procedures (243/328; 74.1%). Treatment complications occurred in 130 out of 328 (39.6%) cases. A high bodyweight (p = 0.047) and an older age (p = 0.01) were found to be significant risk factors for the emergence of therapy complications. Overall, 75.4% of animals (175/232) had a satisfactory long-term outcome. Limb posture anomalies were evaluated in 61 cases (26.3%).
LIMITATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The multi-centre approach led to the inclusion of various institutions, veterinarians, treatment protocols and rabbit populations that might have influenced the results. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively, so there were some data that were lacking or could not be collected in a standardised manner. Furthermore, rabbit owners' evaluation of long-term outcomes might be prone to error, despite the use of a standardised interview questionnaire.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Limb fractures are a common orthopaedic issue in pet rabbits. The patient's bodyweight and age are significant risk factors for the emergence of complications during the fracture treatment process. Long-term orthopaedic effects, such as abnormal limb posture and permanent lameness of the affected limb, were observed regularly.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e2344Informations de copyright
© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
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