Development of a camera-marker system (CMS) for locking nails during intramedullary osteosynthesis in large animals – First results

Abstract

In large animals, fractures of the upper long tubular bones such as forearm and humerus as well as lower and upper leg, continue to represent a major surgical challenge. An implant and a corresponding surgical procedure for intramedullary osteosynthesis in fractures of long bones were developed at fzmb GmbH. Fixation of the implanted nail to the distal drill holes has proven to be difficult and requires a high level of X-ray monitoring. Therefore, a camera-marker system (CMS) was developed without the need for X-ray monitoring during drilling. The test was performed on 10 equine femora. The results showed that 8 of 10 implants could be securely fixed and no complications occurred in the experimental procedure. For the first two implants, the distal drill holes could not be hit in the first attempt. This is due to the circumstance, that the handling of the CMS needs to be practiced to hit the distal drill holes accurately and appropriately, resulting in a hit rate of 80 %. However, the described method has great potential and does not require X-ray exposure.

Keywords

• camera-marker system
• intramedullary nail
• equine
• femur
• implant locking
• osteosynthesis