FIXUS Training: Understanding and Mastering the Orthopedic Product Range

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Course content

2. Types of fractures

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We focus here on fractures, which are the most frequent cases and often the most urgent to address:

Understanding the type of fracture helps explain why there are different plates and screws.
Each fracture requires a different level of stability, hence a different choice of equipment.

The bone is broken across its entire width: the fragments are separated.

👉 Treatment: rigid fixation (plate + screws).

The bone is cracked but not completely broken (like a greenstick).

👉 Often in young animals, lighter treatment. Exercise restriction. No bandage or with an external immobilization bandage, a cast resin, or a splint.

Illustration :

Type of fracture	Description	Clinical example	Difficulty
Transverse	Straight break, perpendicular to the bone	Fall, direct impact	Simple to stabilize
Short oblique	Slanted break over a short distance	Lateral impact	Moderate
Long oblique	Extended slanted break	Severe trauma	Moderate
Spiral	“Twisting” fracture around the bone	Limb torsion	Complex
Comminuted	Bone shattered into multiple fragments	Severe accident	Very complex
Segmental	Several separate breaks on the same bone	Polytrauma	Very complex

All these types of fractures can be open (skin disrupted) or closed (skin intact).

Illustration :

General principles:

Young animal: high and fast healing capacity. The construct can be simple, lighter, less rigid.
Older animal: low and slow bone healing capacity. The construct must hold for a long time and be very rigid.
Simple fracture: fast healing. Light, low-rigidity construct.
Complex fracture with bone loss: slow healing, very rigid construct.
Open fracture: risk of infection that destroys bone and slows bone healing. Very rigid internal construct or external (external fixator).
Mid-shaft fracture: there is room above and below to place sufficient hardware.
Fracture of bone ends, near joints: there is very little room on one side. The joint must not be hindered by the implants. Use of pins or few screws with a stronger purchase (locking screws).

💡 Key takeaway: These situations can overlap and it is up to the surgeon to make the best choice adapted to the situation.