34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Long bone fractures proximal to the carpus and tarsus are infrequent in greyhounds. Differences in the mechanical properties of the long bones in greyhounds and pit bulls have been identified. Greyhounds’ long bones are 1.5–2.4 times stiffer, are more brittle and can fracture at much lower energy levels.

This study aimed to retrospectively compare the aetiology and fracture features in sighthounds and other breeds of dog.

Methods:

Medical records of dogs diagnosed with long bone fractures between January 2016 and December 2022 were reviewed. Dogs were allocated to sighthounds group (SG) or other breeds group (CG). Italian Greyhound and toy-breed dogs were excluded from this study. Signalment (breed, age, gender, neuter status, body weight), cause of injury (racing, any other cause), radiographic fracture features (bone(s), location, and type) were collected from all dogs.

Results:

135 dogs met the inclusion criteria (SG:75; CG:60). Dogs of SG sustaining long bone fractures were older than dogs of CG. Greyhounds were the most affected breed. Non-racing injuries (chasing, playing, running) were the most common cause of fracture. Radius and ulna were the most fractured bones in SG (SG:61.3%; CG:25%), of which 46.5% were localised in distal diaphysis, and 32.6% were simple short oblique fractures. Incidence of fracture comminution was higher in dogs of SG (SG:32%; CG:18.3%).

Conclusions:

Structural factors inherent to the breed affect fracture features (bone, location and type). Fracture fixation could be more challenging in sighthounds.