Quadriceps contracture and fracture disease.

Fracture disease, which is a complication of fracture treatment and immobilization, is defined as atrophy of bone, soft tissues, nail, skin, and cartilage. This condition is most often seen in dogs with quadriceps contracture. Distal femoral fractures treated by extension splints often result in a stiffened stifle in immature dogs, which is a common and often irreversible postsurgical complication. The clinical signs, surgical anatomy, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of this syndrome are reviewed.