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Hard tissue surgery
/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443903.chap13
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- BSAVA Manual of Guinea Pigs
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Hard tissue surgery
- Authors: Charly Pignon and Adeline Decambron
- From: BSAVA Manual of Guinea Pigs
- Item: Chapter 13, pp 152 - 164
- DOI: 10.22233/9781910443903.13
- Copyright: © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
- Publication Date: January 2026
Hard tissue surgery in guinea pigs is challenging because of their different bone composition and properties, and their small size when compared to dogs and cats. In addition, limited information exists on the success and prognosis of different approaches to guide orthopaedic management in this species. This chapter describes the instrumentation and techniques used to manage fractures and dislocations in guinea pigs, with a focus on surgical fixation and amputation. Indications for conservative management of fractures are also discussed; conservative management is covered in Chapter 24. Operative techniques: External tibial fracture fixation; Hindlimb amputation
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/content/chapter/10.22233/9781910443903.chap13
Figures
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13.1
(a) Craniocaudal and (b) lateral radiographs of a femoral fracture in a guinea pig. The fracture is oblique, medio-diaphyseal and has one fragment.
(Courtesy of the Diagnostic Imaging Service at EnvA) © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1
(a) Craniocaudal and (b) lateral radiographs of a femoral fracture in a guinea pig. The fracture is oblique, medio-diaphyseal and has one fragment.
(Courtesy of the Diagnostic Imaging Service at EnvA)
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13.2
An Altman tape splint on a 500 g juvenile guinea pig with a medio-diaphyseal fracture of the radius and ulna.
(Courtesy of the Exotics Service at EnvA) © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2
An Altman tape splint on a 500 g juvenile guinea pig with a medio-diaphyseal fracture of the radius and ulna.
(Courtesy of the Exotics Service at EnvA)
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13.3
Steps to perform a tie-in procedure for a tibial fracture (see
Operative Technique 13.1
). (a) The intramedullary pin is placed normograde through the tibial tuberosity. The pin is advanced into the medullary cavity of the distal fragment. (b) Four transcortical pins are placed laterally, two on each bone fragment (for lighter patients, one pin per fragment may be preferred). (c) The intramedullary pin is bent twice with a 90-degree angle so that its free tip is parallel and lateral to the tibia and flush with the tibial tuberosity. The four transcortical pins are bent once each with a 90-degree angle so their free tips are lateral and parallel to the tibia and pointing in the direction of the fracture site. The bent parts should be long enough to bridge with the pins on the opposite fragment. (d) The transcortical pins and the intramedullary pin are fixed in place with a polymethylmethacrylate or epoxy putty.
Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.3
Steps to perform a tie-in procedure for a tibial fracture (see
Operative Technique 13.1
). (a) The intramedullary pin is placed normograde through the tibial tuberosity. The pin is advanced into the medullary cavity of the distal fragment. (b) Four transcortical pins are placed laterally, two on each bone fragment (for lighter patients, one pin per fragment may be preferred). (c) The intramedullary pin is bent twice with a 90-degree angle so that its free tip is parallel and lateral to the tibia and flush with the tibial tuberosity. The four transcortical pins are bent once each with a 90-degree angle so their free tips are lateral and parallel to the tibia and pointing in the direction of the fracture site. The bent parts should be long enough to bridge with the pins on the opposite fragment. (d) The transcortical pins and the intramedullary pin are fixed in place with a polymethylmethacrylate or epoxy putty.
Drawn by S.J. Elmhurst BA Hons (www.livingart.org.uk) and reproduced with her permission.
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13.4
End of a femoral fracture surgical repair in a guinea pig. The skin is closed with an interrupted pattern. The transcortical and intramedullary pins are fixed in place with a polymethylmethacrylate putty.
(Courtesy of the Exotics Service at EnvA) © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.4
End of a femoral fracture surgical repair in a guinea pig. The skin is closed with an interrupted pattern. The transcortical and intramedullary pins are fixed in place with a polymethylmethacrylate putty.
(Courtesy of the Exotics Service at EnvA)
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13.5
A guinea pig recovering after amputation of the right forelimb due to a complex infected open fracture of the radius and ulna. A catheter was placed in the surgical wound to provide local anaesthesia.
(Courtesy of the Exotics Service at EnvA) © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.5
A guinea pig recovering after amputation of the right forelimb due to a complex infected open fracture of the radius and ulna. A catheter was placed in the surgical wound to provide local anaesthesia.
(Courtesy of the Exotics Service at EnvA)
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13.1.1
Fur is clipped from the tibiotarsal joint to the coxofemoral joint. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.1
Fur is clipped from the tibiotarsal joint to the coxofemoral joint.
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13.1.2
A cutaneous stab incision is made medially to the patellar ligament just cranial to the stifle joint. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.2
A cutaneous stab incision is made medially to the patellar ligament just cranial to the stifle joint.
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13.1.3
The intramedullary pin is inserted through the tibial crest to access the intramedullary cavity. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.3
The intramedullary pin is inserted through the tibial crest to access the intramedullary cavity.
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13.1.4
The pin is gently advanced further to enter the intramedullary cavity of the distal fragment. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.4
The pin is gently advanced further to enter the intramedullary cavity of the distal fragment.
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13.1.5
A cutaneous stab incision is made on the medial aspect of the tibia on the proximal fragment. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.5
A cutaneous stab incision is made on the medial aspect of the tibia on the proximal fragment.
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13.1.6
A transcortical pin is placed in the proximal fragment using a drill or a handpiece. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.6
A transcortical pin is placed in the proximal fragment using a drill or a handpiece.
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13.1.7
A cutaneous stab incision is made on the medial aspect of the tibia on the distal fragment. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.7
A cutaneous stab incision is made on the medial aspect of the tibia on the distal fragment.
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13.1.8
A transcortical pin is placed in the distal fragment using a drill or a handpiece. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.8
A transcortical pin is placed in the distal fragment using a drill or a handpiece.
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13.1.9
The intramedullary pin is bent twice at a 90-degree angle. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.9
The intramedullary pin is bent twice at a 90-degree angle.
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13.1.10
The medial and lateral parts of the transcortical pins are bent at 90-degree angles. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.1.10
The medial and lateral parts of the transcortical pins are bent at 90-degree angles.
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13.2.1
The patient is positioned in lateral recumbency and the affected hindlimb is clipped circumferentially from the dorsal midline to the tarsus. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.1
The patient is positioned in lateral recumbency and the affected hindlimb is clipped circumferentially from the dorsal midline to the tarsus.
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13.2.2
The skin and subcutaneous tissue are incised using a curved incision on the lateral aspect of the limb. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.2
The skin and subcutaneous tissue are incised using a curved incision on the lateral aspect of the limb.
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13.2.3
A similar incision to that shown in
Figure 13.2.2
is made on the medial aspect of the limb, connecting at either edge. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.3
A similar incision to that shown in
Figure 13.2.2
is made on the medial aspect of the limb, connecting at either edge.
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13.2.4
The femoral artery and vein are isolated, ligated and transected within the femoral triangle. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.4
The femoral artery and vein are isolated, ligated and transected within the femoral triangle.
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13.2.5
The femoral nerve is identified, blocked and sectioned. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.5
The femoral nerve is identified, blocked and sectioned.
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13.2.6
The iliopsoas muscle is transected at its insertion on the lesser trochanter and retracted cranially to fully expose the coxofemoral joint capsule. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.6
The iliopsoas muscle is transected at its insertion on the lesser trochanter and retracted cranially to fully expose the coxofemoral joint capsule.
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13.2.7
The joint capsule is incised, the round ligament is cut, and the femoral head is exposed and luxated. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.7
The joint capsule is incised, the round ligament is cut, and the femoral head is exposed and luxated.
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13.2.8
The biceps femoris and tensor fascia latae are transected at the level of midshaft femur. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.8
The biceps femoris and tensor fascia latae are transected at the level of midshaft femur.
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13.2.9
The biceps femoris and tensor fascia latae are reflected proximally to expose the sciatic nerve. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.9
The biceps femoris and tensor fascia latae are reflected proximally to expose the sciatic nerve.
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13.2.10
The gluteal muscle is divided at its insertions on the greater trochanter. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.10
The gluteal muscle is divided at its insertions on the greater trochanter.
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13.2.11
The limb is removed. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.11
The limb is removed.
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13.2.12
The skin edges are apposed using intradermal sutures and tissue glue. © 2026 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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13.2.12
The skin edges are apposed using intradermal sutures and tissue glue.