Overall Course Description:

This is an advanced level course designed for practitioners that have completed the “Principles of Fracture Repair” course (or equivalent) and have experience with fracture repair. The course is one of three advanced courses designed to train veterinarians to reach a high level of expertise in veterinary orthopedics. These techniques are difficult and quite demanding. They require a firm understanding of orthopedic principles, tissue handling, use of power equipment, locking plate technique, and use of bone clamps and other orthopedic instrumentation.  

Fractures of the femur and tibia are common in dogs and cats. This course will discuss decision-making, surgical approach, fracture reduction techniques and surgical repair of different types of simple and comminuted fractures of the femur and tibia.

This course is designed to take one to a higher level in fracture repair.  We will teach reliable techniques and give valuable practical tips useful in repairing simple and more challenging comminuted fractures. New implant designs have made fracture repair much simpler and more affordable. In addition, postoperative management of patients has also been simplified and complications are rare if the principles of fracture repair are followed.

This course will familiarize participants with fracture repair techniques through lecture and clinical case presentations. Following lecture and case review, participants will repair fractures on plastic bone models and cadavers. Postoperative radiographs will be taken to evaluate the participants repair technique

Learning Objectives:

1.     Understand the principles of bone healing and the differences between secondary and primary bone healing.

2.     Review fracture classification and choice of fixation for fractures of the femur and tibia.

3.     Discuss the concept of direct versus indirect fracture reduction and decision making on approach.

4.     Learn how to correctly apply locking bone plates, plate and rod repair, lag screws and pin and tension band.

5.     Discuss fracture fixation and surgical approaches for proximal, diaphyseal and distal fractures of the tibia, and femur.

COMPLICATED FEMORAL AND TIBIAL FRACTURES

Day 1

• 8:00am   Welcome & Introductions
• 8:05am   Direct & Indirect Fracture Reduction: A Review
• 8:20am   Femoral Head and Neck Fractures
• 8:50am   Laboratory 1: Demo capital physeal and femoral neck fracture repair (Cadaver) – k-wires and HCS/wire
• 9:15am    Laboratory 2: Direct reduction of capital physeal fracture (Plastic Bone Model & R leg of Cadaver) – k-wires
• 10:30am  Laboratory 3: Direct reduction of femoral neck fracture (Plastic Bone Model & L leg of Cadaver) – HCS, k-wire
• 12:00pm  Lunch
• 12:45pm  Comminuted Femoral Shaft Fractures
• 1:15pm     Laboratory 4: Demo of indirect reduction of femoral shaft fracture (Cadaver) – Plate and Rod and Double-Plate
• 1:30pm    Laboratory 5: Indirect reduction of femoral shaft fracture (Cadaver both legs) – Plate and Rod or Double-Plate
• 3:15pm    Distal femoral physeal and supratrochlear fractures
• 3:30pm   Laboratory 6: Direct reduction of distal femoral physeal fracture (Cadaver R leg) – Pins
• 4:15pm    Laboratory 7: Direct reduction of distal femoral supratrochlear fracture (Cadaver L leg) – Pins
• 5:00pm   Conclusion of Day 1

Day 2

• 8:00am    Review of Day 1 Radiographs
• 9:00am    Comminuted Tibial Shaft Fractures
• 9:30am     Laboratory 8: Demo of indirect reduction of tibial shaft fracture (Cadaver) – Plate and Rod or Double-Plate
• 9:45am     Laboratory 9: Indirect reduction of tibial shaft fracture (Cadaver both legs) – Plate and Rod or Double-Plate
• 12:00pm   Lunch
• 12:45pm   Distal Tibial Fractures
• 1:15pm      Laboratory 10: Demo of repair of distal tibial shaft fracture (Cadaver) – Double-Plate (straight and T-plate)
• 1:30pm      Laboratory 11: Repair of distal tibial shaft fracture (Cadaver both legs) – Double-Plate (straight and T-plate)
• 3:15pm      Tibial Tuberosity Fractures
• 3:30pm      Laboratory 12: Demo of Direct Reduction of Tibial Tuberosity Fracture (Cadaver) – Pin and Tension Band
• 3:45pm      Laboratory 13: Direct Reduction of Tibial Tuberosity Fracture (Cadaver both legs) – Pin and Tension Band
• 4:45pm      Wrap up discussion
• 5:00pm      Conclusion of Course

Location: Park City, Utah

This unique facility is nestled on 1.4-acres in the quaint mountain town of Park City and is home to the Bark City Veterinary Specialists practice and Nexus Park City. The property has been newly renovated but retains its rustic mountain charm. When participating in a course at Nexus Park City, you can expect the following amenities to be included:

• Complimentary lunch
• All general/specialty instrumentation used in each course
• Instructor’s course notes