The purpose of this study was to compare the applicability of xenograft implants made from canine long bones, and conventional bone plates, for repair of femoral fractures in the feline. The long bones of two mature dogs which were euthanized due to motor vehicle accident, were prepared and plates similar to conventional bone plate were made out of them. The plates were deproteinized, degreased and sterilized by ethylene oxide. Nine mature persian cats referred to small animal clinic with femoral fractures were selected and xenograft bone plate implants were used to reduce and fix the femoral fracture in five cats and conventional bone plate in four. All the cats received appropriate daily postoperative care and were evaluated radiographically every 15 days.

The results indicated that the density of transplanted bone decreased gradually while the fragments were in rigid fixation condition along with active repair process. After six months the femoral fracture was healed completely leaving the metal screws in place. The rest of the plates were in process of resorption.

We found that the xenograft bone plate implants were comparable to the conventional bone plate for repair of fractures in cats. The xenograft bone plates were tolerated by cats; none were rejected. Their gradual resorption provided minerals necessary for osteoconduction or osteosynthesis in the process of fracture healing. Therefore they can be used as an alternative to metal plates for fixation of fractured bone in cats.