Bone fracture and sequestration as complications of external skeletal fixation

A transverse tibial fracture and bone sequestrum at the pin-bone interface were diagnosed in a dog treated with external skeletal fixation for tarsal arthrodesis. The causes of the bone fracture were improper use of external fixator pins and trauma after the fixator became entangled in a fence. After removal of the original fixator, the tibial fracture was successfully repaired with an intramedullary pin, a type II external skeletal fixator and an autogenous cancellous bone graft. Bone sequestration and draining sinuses were successfully treated with curettage and antimicrobial therapy.