Carpal Arthrodesis

Most often, the plate is applied dorsally to the distal radius, radial carpal and the third metacarpal bone. PCA is technically demanding and complications are not uncommon. Orthomed believed there was considerable potential for improvement through further evolution of the design of the standard PCA implant, hence the design and manufacturing of the Orthomed Castless Pancarpal Arthrodesis Plate.

The Castless Partial Arthrodesis Plate from Orthomed, is the first range of plates designed specifically for canine partial carpal arthrodesis. The plate has several custom design features which make it ideal for this surgery.

PCA

• Eliminates the need for potentially serious complications by not requiring casts
• The underside of the implant is smoothly contoured without ‘steps’ which would act as stress risers
• Proximally, a curved under surface conforms to the distal radius and radial carpal bone
• Distally, the surface features a ‘keel’ to accommodate the dorsal aspects of metacarpals three and four
• The implant is shaped to impose an arthrodesis angle of approximately 8° without the need to bend the plate

ParCA

• Eliminates the need for potentially serious complications by not requiring casts
• The top of the plate is bevelled by 60° and laterally recessed to avoid impingement on the cranio-distal aspect or styloid process of the radius
• The proximal plate holes are angled at 60° proximally allowing more distal placement of the plate on both the radial and ulnar carpal bone than a conventional plate
• Compression and stability across the radio-ulnar carpal bone joint encourage primary bone healing in an effort to promote minimal callus formation between these bones within the preserved antebrachiocarpal joint
• The distal aspect of the plate is tapered to facilitate tension free skin closure and to reduce stress risers at the base of the plate