SURGERY
Figure 2 a: Repair with a 10
hole 5mm Locking Compres-
sion Plate
Figure 1: The fracture at presentation
Early Active Mobilization
The features of the compression plate combined with
AO technique creates an environment for bone heal-
ing in antelope fracture cases, expediting a return to
optimal function. In our opinion, successful rehabilita-
tion of antelopes after fracture fixation, is significantly
enhanced with reduced post-operative time.
Fracture Repair in an Adult Sable
The use of a locking compression plate allowed the
successful repair of a closed mid metacarpal fracture
and non-union of an adult sable cow. The fracture
had been treated for approximately 8 weeks before
referral to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic
Hospital (OVAH) with external coaptation in the form
of a full limb cast. This treatment had been unsuc-
cessful and resulted in a non-union. A 10 hole lock-
ing compression plate was used to repair the fracture
with 8 locking screws and one mid cortical screw.
(Figure 1 and 2)
Advances in Intra-Operative Care
As implant technology has improved in the last 15
years, knowledge about anaesthetic regimes in South
African antelopes has also greatly improved.
Figure 2 b: The fracture site
8 weeks post-operatively with
the cortical screw removed
The drugs available to veterinarians have been refined
and knowledge of physiology in antelope species has
improved reducing anaesthetic complication associ-
ated with prolonged surgeries. New drug regimens
are being developed all the time to improve down-
time and reduce stress in the antelope species.
There is a scarcity of information available regarding
blood transfusions in antelopes but a group at the Uni-
versity of Pretoria is conducting research in this area.
This group recently described the use of bovine blood
as a component of a successful blood transfusion re-
gime during fracture repair in a golden wildebeest. 13
Future Developments
The OVAH has plans for a dedicated wildlife hospi-
tal on the campus at Onderstepoort. Plans have been
submitted to build dedicated bomas for carnivores,
small and large antelope, buffalo and rhinoceros next
to the OVAH in 2018. These facilities will allow refine-
ment of the post-operative care of antelopes under-
going fracture repair and will further improve the suc-
cess rate of these surgeries.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr Charlie Boucher for review-
ing this manuscript and Professor Louis Coetzee for
his inspirational guidance.
References available at www.vet360.vetlink.co.za
Issue 06 | DECEMBER 2017 | 15