Radiographic and Histological Evaluation in Canine Femur after Implantation of 304 Stainless-steel-based Plate

Fractures are known to be high-risk traumatic cases in domestic animals. Surgery was performed to reposition and immobilize bone using a plate as a biomaterial component. This study aimed to evaluate the radiographic and histological findings in canine femur after implantation of a 304 stainless-steel-based plate. A total of six male dogs aged 3-4 months were used in this study. Dogs were acclimatized for a week and then randomly assigned to 2 groups and 3 replication, respectively. The left femoral diaphysis was cracked and fixed by (A) commercial plate; (B) 304 stainless-steel plate. Radiographic observations were performed at 24 h and 28 d postoperatively during the recovery period. Histological figures were evaluated at 28 d postoperative descriptively. As a result, physical examination of muscle tissue in both groups did not reveal discoloration, swelling, and fluid accumulation around the plate. The radiographic figures presented a slight callus production around the crack and a decrease in the gap between cracks after 28 d. The histological figures observed the proliferation of osteoblasts, osteocytes, connective tissues, and bone trabeculae. It can be concluded that no significant difference between 304 stainless-steel plate compared to commercial plate. A 304 stainless-steel-based plate is recommended for bone immobilization in canine femoral fractures.