Dynamic intramedullary crosspinning technique for the treatment of distal femoral metaphyseal fracture in a free-ranging jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)

Abstract

An approximately 3-month-old female free-ranging jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) was admitted for evaluation of swelling near the right stifle and inability to use the right hindlimb. Radiographic examination revealed a closed, short oblique fracture of the right distal femoral metaphysis, and the bone cortex appeared thin. Because of the poor body condition, the surgical procedure was performed 6 days after admission. The fracture was stabilised using a dynamic intramedullary crosspinning technique. Two 1.5 mm diameter Kirschner (K) wires were introduced at an approximately 20° angle to the sagittal plane of the femur. Radiographic evaluation 3 months after surgery revealed an open distal physis, fracture healing in the remodelling phase and K-wires engulfed by the bone, which made removal impossible. At the 6-month follow-up, a length discrepancy of 0.8 cm in the right femur compared to the left femur was noted. Despite this complication, the locomotion pattern was considered normal according to visual gait analysis.