characteristics of fractures of the appendicular and axial skeletons in rabbits and hares: a retrospective study

Background: the frequency and characteristics of fractures may vary according to the environment. objectives: the present study aimed to assess the fractures of the appendicular and axial skeletons in rabbits (oryctolagus cuniculus) and hares (lepus sp.) presented at a veterinary teaching hospital. methods: medical records and radiographs were retrospectively analyzed over eight years. results: twenty-six pet rabbits and five free-ranging hares were enrolled in this study. twenty-one of them had fractures in the appendicular skeleton, nine in the axial skeleton, and one in both. the fractures were related to traumatic events, such as being hit by a vehicle (22.58%), falling (12.9%), being attacked by another animal (12.9%), and having a paw stuck in a hole (3.22%); 48.38% had an unknown cause. long bone fractures were found in the humerus (n=2), radius/ulna (n=1), femur (n=5), and tibia (n=12). fractures involving the distal aspects of the limbs included the tarsus (n=1) and metatarsus (n=2) bones. except for one rabbit, all of the others had unilateral fractures. fourteen presented closed fractures, and nine were open fractures. all these fractures were complete, 56.52%% simple, and 43.47% multifragmental. the procedures used included osteosynthesis (42.85%), external coaptation (28.57%), amputation (14.28%), euthanasia (4.76%), and two animals died (9.52%). the fractures of the axial skeleton included the vertebral column (n=6), mandible (n=3), and pelvis (n=2). five fractures were treated conservatively, and the rabbits were euthanized in four cases. conclusions: the fractures resulted from a traumatic episode, which had an unknown origin in most of the cases, involving mainly the appendicular skeleton, being the tibia the bone most affected.