Release notes - Dog radial and ulnar shaft

1. First edition

Publication of module (September 23, 2025)

The module on this anatomical area has been authored by Daniel Damur (Switzerland). Matthew J Allen (UK) acted as editor.

The dog radial and ulnar shaft module includes pages on:

  • Fracture diagnosis
  • Surgical approaches to the radial and ulnar shaft
  • Patient positioning
  • Complications
  • Wide selection of fracture fixation techniques tailored to the specific fracture types

Around 300 original illustrations accompany the step-by-step descriptions of the various fixation techniques and approaches.

To help identify the fractures, x-rays of most fracture types have been included in the diagnosis section.

This module is exclusively for AO VET members.

Go to the module entry page.

Patient presented with a 22-B3 fracture

Table of contents

The dog radial und ulnar shaft material includes a detailed description of the following fracture types and fixation methods.

22-A1 Incomplete fracture of the diaphyseal radius or fracture of one bone only:

  • Nonoperative treatment
  • Compression plate
  • Linear external skeletal fixator

22-A2 Simple fracture of the distal zone of the diaphyseal radius:

  • Nonoperative treatment
  • Lag screws and neutralization plate
  • Lag screw and neutralization plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Compression T-plate
  • Compression T-plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Compression plate
  • Compression plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Circular or hybrid external skeletal fixator
  • Linear external skeletal fixator

22-A3 Simple fracture of the proximal zone of the diaphyseal radius:

  • Compression plate
  • Compression plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Lag screws and neutralization plate
  • Lag screw and neutralization plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Circular or hybrid external skeletal fixator
  • Linear external skeletal fixator
  • Bridging plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna

22-B1 Wedge fracture of the diaphyseal radius with simple ulnar fracture:

  • Lag screws and neutralization plate
  • Lag screw and neutralization plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Bridging plate
  • Bridging plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Orthogonal bridging plates
  • Linear external skeletal fixator

22-B2 Wedge fracture of the distal zone of the diaphyseal radius with multifragmentary ulnar fracture:

  • Lag screws and neutralization plate
  • Lag screw and neutralization plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Bridging plate
  • Bridging plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Orthogonal bridging plates
  • Linear external skeletal fixator

22-B3 Wedge fracture of the proximal zone of the diaphyseal radius with multifragmentary ulnar fracture:

  • Lag screws and neutralization plate
  • Lag screw and neutralization plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Bridging plate
  • Bridging plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Orthogonal bridging plates
  • Circular or hybrid external skeletal fixator
  • Linear external skeletal fixator

22-C1 Complex fracture of the diaphyseal radius with simple or wedge ulnar fracture:

  • Bridging plate
  • Bridging plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Orthogonal bridging plates
  • Orthogonal bridging plates on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Linear external skeletal fixator
  • Circular or hybrid external skeletal fixator

22-C2 Segmental fracture of the diaphyseal radius with complex ulnar fracture:

  • Bridging plate
  • Bridging plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Orthogonal bridging plates
  • Orthogonal bridging plates on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Linear external skeletal fixator
  • Circular or hybrid external skeletal fixator

22-C3 Complex fracture of the diaphyseal radius with complex ulnar fracture:

  • Bridging plate
  • Bridging plate on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Orthogonal bridging plates
  • Orthogonal bridging plates on radius with IM pin or plate on ulna
  • Linear external skeletal fixator
  • Circular or hybrid external skeletal fixator

In addition, the material contains information about the following:

  • Diagnosing each fracture type
  • Indications for all treatments
  • Patient positioning in dorsal recumbency, lateral recumbency, and sternal recumbency
  • Craniomedial and MIO approaches to the radial shaft
  • Caudolateral approach to the ulnar shaft
  • Basic techniques for lag screw fixation, plate preparation, implant removal, and general considerations on external skeletal fixators
Go to reference