Realignment of the radius in canine antebrachial growth deformities treated with corrective osteotomy and bilateral (type II) external fixation.

Objective: To identify factors affecting radial alignment after oblique corrective osteotomy stabilized with a type II external fixator and to evaluate the results of this treatment for antebrachial growth deformities.

Methods: Retrospective study Methods: Twenty-eight dogs with unilateral antebrachial growth deformities treated with acute corrective osteotomy stabilized with a type II external fixator. Methods: Medical records and preoperative and postoperative radiographs of the affected and contralateral limb were reviewed. Cause of deformity, age, weight, and gender were recorded. Radial length, varus/valgus angulation, and cranial/caudal angulation were measured from radiographs of the treated and contralateral limbs. Preoperative and postoperative angulation and length discrepancy were compared between affected and contralateral limbs.

Results: Correction of varus/valgus angle discrepancy was achieved by using acute corrective osteotomy stabilized with type II external skeletal fixation. No significant change was noted for correction of cranial/caudal angle discrepancy or length discrepancy between the affected and control limb.

Conclusions: Varus/valgus angle deformities can be treated successfully with type III external fixation after oblique corrective osteotomy. Patients with significant length or cranial/caudal angle discrepancies or both that negatively impact function may require the use of hinged circular fixators or other dynamic techniques to achieve adequate correction.