Fracture and luxation management using a C-arm involves the utilization of a specialized imaging system to aid in the reduction and fixation of bone fractures and joint dislocations. The use of a C-Arm results in smaller incisions, less tissue trauma, less pain, faster recoveries, more comfortable patients, pleased surgeons, improved surgical outcomes, and happy pet owners. A C-arm is a fluoroscopic imaging device that consists of a C-shaped arm that can be maneuvered around the patient to capture “real-time” X-ray images and “moving” X-ray videos from various angles during the operation. This allows the surgeons to see into the patient without being invasive to the patient with real-time visualization of the surgical site, precise placement of fixation hardware.
When a patient presents with a fracture or joint dislocation, the Spry Companions surgery assesses the injury using clinical examination and usually preliminary imaging such X-rays. This helps determine the severity, type of injury, and if the fracture is amenable to a minimally invasive approach to the problem. If the patients is determined to benefit from the use of a minimally invasive orthopedic technique, here’s how fracture and luxation management with a C-arm is accomplished:
- Anesthesia and Preparation: The patient is anesthetized, prepped and positioned appropriately on a specialized radiolucent (see-through) table.
- Imaging: The C-arm is positioned around a patient at various angles and fluoroscopic images are obtained in real-time. These images provide detailed information about the nature, location, and extent of the fracture or dislocation.
- Reduction: Based on the fluoroscopic images, the surgeon can carefully manipulate the fractured bones or dislocated joint back into their proper anatomical position. This process is called reduction and the goal is to restore normal bone or joint alignment.
- Fixation: Once reduction is achieved, the surgeon stabilizes the fractured bones or joint using stabilizing implants. These implants are also placed using the C-arm, resulting in smaller incisions when compared to “open” approaches and to ensure accurate placement of the fixation hardware. The implants might include screws, plates, wires, or external fixation devices like pins and external fixators
- Confirmation: After fixation, the surgeon can confirm the alignment and stability of the fracture or joint using fluoroscopy. Adjustments may be made at this time to achieve optimal alignment and stability.
Post-operative care is important and the patient is monitored closely during the postoperative period. This may involve pain management, rehabilitation exercises, and follow-up imaging to assess healing. There are a variety of fractures, luxations, and other conditions that are amenable to minimally invasive techniques with the C-Arm, including:
- Sacroiliac luxations
- Lateral humeral condylar fractures
- Physeal (growth plate) fractures
- Incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle
- Select long-bone fractures