[Classifications of 202 tibial fractures in dogs and cats]

202 Tibial fractures, in 138 dogs and 64 cats, were classified according to the system of Unger. The animals were presented between 1989 and 1994 to four Dutch veterinary orthopaedic referral clinics. In addition to the type of fracture, demographic information was taken into account including the species, the age of the patient, the size of the breed, the treatment, whether it was a open or closed fracture and the orthopaedic clinic. Possible correlation between the type of fracture and the variables, as well as correlations among the latter, were examined statistically. In this study 73% of the tibial fractures in dogs and cats were in the diaphysis, oblique fracture being the most frequent (24%). Proximal tibial fractures in dogs were usually extra-articular and 87% of these involved avulsion of the tibial tubercle. Malleolar fractures accounted for 57% of the distal fractures. A significant correlation was found between the localization of the fracture (proximal, diaphyseal or distal) and the species (cat or dog), between an avulsion fracture of the tibial tubercle and the age in dogs, between an incomplete tibial fracture and the age, between a malleolar fracture and a complicated (i.e., open) fracture, between a butterfly fracture and a complicated fracture, and between the applied therapy and the orthopaedic clinic. The classification system of Unger is very useful for inventory and documentation, but because of the lack of data about physeal fractures, the degree of injury to the surrounding soft tissues, and the influence of differences between surgeons, it cannot be used to determine therapy.