International gurus to train veterinarians on animal fracture management

Chennai:
In what could be a blessing for pet lovers, International gurus on small animal fracture management would offer a three-day discourse to professional veterinarians at the Madras Veterinary College here from Friday.

Speaking after the inauguration of the training programme AOVET – Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO) Principles of Small Animal Fracture Management at the Madras Veterinary college here on Thursday, vice-chancellor of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal sciences University Dr R Prabakaran said the training, first of its kind in India, will enhance the skills of veterinarians to diagnose, treat and perform orthopaedic surgeries in pet animals.

He said veterinary services had been developing in India with pet rearing on the rise due to nuclear families in India. “Small animals veterinary practice is developing rapidly and there is a great interest in orthopaedic surgery as a speciality by practicing veterinarians following great demand for specialized orthopaedic services from pet owners,” Dr Prabhakar said.

Interestingly, a total of 48 professional veterinarians from India, Bangladesh and Malaysia will participate in the programme that starts from Friday. Globally reputed small animal orthopaedic surgeons from Switzerland, US and Australia will deliver lectures and guide the participants through various laboratory exercises on fracture fixation with bone models using specialized intrumentation and implants, said Dr S Ayyappan, professor of surgery, Madras Veterinary College and a AO Vet member.

Dr h c Jorg A Auer, chairman AO VET, University of Zurich, Switzerland said that the course will expose the participants to basic techniques of fracture management. “The participants after the lecture will be conducting surgery on plastic bones imported from Zurich and will be evaluated by the faculty,” Jorg said.

Prof Randy Boudrieau, section head – small animal surgery, Cummins School of Veterinary medicine, Orthopaedic surgery Tufts University, US, said that the philosophy of management will focus on quick recovery of animals as it is hard to fix the fracture and let the animal rest. “Fixation of fracture helps them to return to their normal life immediately,” he said.