Perceptions of minimally invasive osteosynthesis: A 2018 survey of orthopedic surgeons

To report perspectives of minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO) techniques in veterinary surgical practice in 2018.

Electronic questionnaires.

Diplomates and residents of the American College of Veterinary Surgery and European College of Veterinary Surgery and members of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society.

Survey questions pertaining to MIO and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) were sent electronically to the sample population. Questions assessed training, current caseload, benefits, and limitations of MIO and MIPO.

Two hundred fifty-six veterinary surgeons completed questions pertaining to MIO, and 238 veterinary surgeons completed questions pertaining to MIPO. With regard to MIO, only 16% of respondents reported that they performed MIO regularly or exclusively, and 62% wanted to perform more MIO than they were currently undertaking. Tibial fractures were most commonly selected for MIO/MIPO stabilization techniques in both cats and dogs. Challenges in achieving adequate fracture reduction were identified as the greatest limitations of MIO/MIPO techniques. Forty-three percent of respondents felt there were not enough MIPO training opportunities.

Currently, MIO/MIPO techniques are performed infrequently, with a large proportion of respondents revealing that they would like to perform more in the future. There is also evidence that additional training opportunities would be welcomed for MIPO.

The results of our survey provide evidence that, despite the benefits of MIO and MIPO compared with more traditional fracture stabilization approaches, significant barriers must be overcome before the techniques are likely to be more widely adopted.