rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Rob Davis — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:47:24 GMT

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]

The principles and practice of repairing jaw fractures is similar to fractures elsewhere in the skeleton. The problem comes when your "arthropod" doesn't know, doesn't understand or doesn't apply the principles. The "recipes" that can be applied with some confidence to the common long bone fractures are emphatically NOT applicable to mandibular or maxillary fractures.

[/quote]

I should have chosen my words more carefully, and was in no way intending to ruffle feathers! I agree that the principles of fracture repair will be similar, but the practical application of those principles can be very different. There are techniques suitable for jaw fractures which are not applicable elsewhere, and some techniques commonly used for long bone fracture (eg IM pins) are competely inappropriate for jaws. A good knowledge of the anatomy is also important.

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]It is all down to biology and biomechanics, not just the ability to purchase and the confidence to apply a rang of metallic implants.[/quote]

I agree completely!

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Malcolm Ness — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 19:10:10 GMT

It is all down to biology and biomechanics, not just the ability to purchase and the confidence to apply a rang of metallic implants.

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Malcolm Ness — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 19:09:44 GMT

It is all down to biology and biomechanics, not just the ability to purchase and the confidence to apply a rang of metallic implants.

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:58:55 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"]

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]Can you refer to local orthopod[/quote]

While I have great respect for many orthopods' ability to repair limb fractures, jaw fractures are very different. A dental specialist would generally be a better bet in my opinion to deal with jaw fractures. I have seen several pictures of disastrous jaws which have been repaired using normal orthopaedic principles and techniques....

[/quote]

Good to know - I did have an orthopod who was happy and very good at doing this kind of thing but sounds like he was the exception. Will bear that in mind now I don't have him nearby and will send all my horrendously broken rabbits to Evelyn instead :)

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Rob Davis — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 12:46:11 GMT

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]Can you refer to local orthopod[/quote]

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Marie Kubiak — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 14:39:55 GMT

That really doesn't sound great. Osteomyelitis is bad enough in a rabbit, but on top of a fracture sounds like a recipe for disaster. Can you refer to local orthopod if they are prepared to see something that isn't a cat or dog? Otherwise given the likely damage to at least 2 teeth, guarded prognosis and ongoing pain euthanasia doesn't seem the worst consideration.

Marie

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Robin Grimmer — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 15:15:19 GMT

Thanks Evelyn, and a fracture too. The fracture was probably traumatic, there was no other pathology at the time.

Re: rabbit with broken jaw and osteomyelitis

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 14:33:29 GMT

This is only anecdote, but: I have never knowingly cured a rabbit with osteomyelitis in the mandible, and I have tried.