Clinical and radiological evaluation of acrylic external fixation technique of mandible fractures in dogs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of a mandibular fracture with the use of acrylic external fixator in dogs. Five dogs were treated with this method. Each patient was followed up for 45-50 days. In this study, preoperative radiographs were taken for each patient and the fracture was evaluated. Steinmann pins (2 mm), endotracheal tubes (9,0 mm) and polymethylmethacrylate acrylic were used for treatment. Postoperative radiographs were taken at 10th, 30th and 45th days for each patient. Four dogs were treated successfully (Case 1, 2, 3 and 4). But anatomical occlusion could not be achieved in one case (Case 5). Controlled feeding with soft foods was maintained during the postoperative period. Despite follow up period could be completed successfully for 4 cases (Case 1, 2, 3 and 4), one case (Case 5) could not be followed up after postoperative 30th days. No complication was observed in this four cases which could be followed up at the end of the healing period. Acrylic external fixators can be used to repair fractures of mandibula as a cheaper treatment method in dogs. The high healing rate associated with a functional outcome and low complication rate support the use of acrylic external fixators for fractures of corpus mandibulae. Acrylic external fixators should be considered as an alternative and cheaper technique for management of fractures of the mandibulae, femur, tibia, antebrachium and humerus in dogs