[Proximal femoral fractures in cats and dogs]

Fractures of the femoral head, neck and greater trochanter including physeal separations are common in the growing dog and cat. These lesions are discussed and illustrated from the standpoints of the anatomy and pathophysiology, etiology, diagnosis and surgical therapy. The prognosis is favorable under the conditions of early anatomical reduction, gentle tissue handling to preserve the blood supply and stable internal fixation. Persistent avascular necrosis of the femoral head as seen in human patients does not appear as a complication in small animals. This review is based on 235 internal fixations out of which 145 are reevaluated clinically as well as radiographically.