This system, which includes straight, T shaped, notched head T, and H shaped plates, has been available for human hand surgery for several years (Fig 2). Because the long-bone geometry of cats as well as toy and miniature breed dogs is similar to the long-bones of the human hand, the contours of the plates fit these animals well. The thickness of the plate is also well-suited for these patients to reduce the chance of stress protection and bone resorption, which is a common problem in toy breed dogs.

The LCP 1.5 system is low profile with rounded edges to minimize soft tissue irritation. To apply this system at different implantation sites, the plates can easily be bent or cut with the respective instrumentation. Combination holes in the straight plates allow the use of cortex or locking screws. Thus, the fracture site can be compressed by placing the screw in the dynamic compression unit portion of the hole to achieve increased fracture stability. Two possible indications for the LCP 1.5 system are distal radius fractures in toy or miniature breed dogs and cats and hyperextension from rheumatoid arthritis.

The adaptation of the LCP system from the human hand to cats and miniature and toy breed dogs addresses a clinical need and provides a perfect solution for many long-bone fracture fixations in small dogs and cats as well for the stabilization of flat-bone fractures such as pelvic or scapular fractures in these animals.

Case 1: Pancarpal arthrodesis

(Case provided by Antonio Pozzi, Florida, USA)

A 5-year-old female 3.5 kg dachshund with bilateral carpal hyperextension secondary to erosive polyarthroplathy (rheumatoid arthritis) (Fig 3, Fig 4) was treated bilaterally with a staged pancarpal arthrodesis with straight LCPs. The right carpus was operated first and healed in 10 weeks. The left carpus was operated 5 months after the initial surgery (Fig 5). Complete healing was noted 3 months postoperatively (Fig 6).

At the most recent follow-up 20 months postoperatively (first arthrodesis), the dog was comfortable and very active. The plates were selected based on the small bone size and the risk of secondary osteopenia. Locking screws are important to prevent screw loosening in patients with poor bone quality, especially in the case of pancarpal arthrodesis where high bending forces must be neutralized.

Case 2: Open reduction and internal fixation of distal radius and ulna fractures

(Case provided by Amy S Kapatkin, California, USA)

The patient was an approximately 2-year-old 1.5 kg miniature poodle with a radius and ulna fracture of the left thoracic limb. Although there are (1.5 mm screw) cuttable plates available for these small breeds, they require disruption of the periosteum and sometimes the distal fragment has room for only one screw if a straight plate is used. The tiny T plates, using cortex screws, are often too short; ideally at least 3550% of the limb length has to be spanned. In traditional plates, every hole must be filled and contributes to stress protection of the bone. These plate options also do not permit the use of locking screws. Therefore, the condylar LCP 1.5 was a perfect plate for these fractures (Fig 7).

An open but do not touch approach was performed with 3 proximal screws and 2 distal locking screws inserted in the LCP (Fig 8).

After 3 months, the previous fracture of the radius was no longer visible and there was smooth callus in the region of the previous fracture (Fig 9). There was bone loss at the distal ulna, most likely due to stress shielding. Plate removal can be considered at 6 months if bone resorption is a concern.