The Advanced Locking Plate System (ALPS): a retrospective evaluation in 71 small animal patients

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Orthopedics
• Small Animal Surgery

Background:

• Fracture repair and orthopedic condition management in small animals present unique challenges.
• The Advanced Locking Plate System (ALPS) is a surgical implant system for bone stabilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of using the Advanced Locking Plate System (ALPS) in veterinary patients.
• To report complications and overall success rates associated with ALPS in dogs and cats.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case series design was employed.
• Medical records from April 2007 to April 2010 were reviewed for dogs (n=29) and cats (n=42) treated with ALPS.
• Data collected included patient demographics, surgical indications, complications, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• ALPS was utilized for 54 fractures, 12 ligament injuries, and 6 cases related to total hip replacement.
• Complications requiring revision surgery occurred in 5.5% of cases (4/73), including fixation failure and a fracture through a screw hole.
• The most frequent complication noted after tarsal arthrodesis was suture dehiscence; however, all cases achieved bone healing by the study's conclusion.

Conclusions:

• The Advanced Locking Plate System (ALPS) demonstrates reliability as an alternative for managing fractures and certain orthopedic conditions in small animal patients.
• ALPS provides a viable surgical solution with a manageable complication profile for veterinary orthopedic surgery.