| Course Details | |
| Title | Fracture Management – Long Bones: Practical Fixation Techniques for Small Dogs & Cats |
| Faculty | Dr. Charisse Davidson (DVM, MS, DACVS) |
| Course Fee | See the MVC 2027 Website |
| CE Credits | 8 hours |
| Course Language | in English |
| Hands-on Training | Dry & Wet Lab |
| Registration | Registration opens on November 10→ |
| More Info | See flyer here → |
This course is designed for small animal practitioners seeking practical, effective methods to manage long bone fractures in dogs and cats. Participants will learn simplified techniques suitable for both straightforward and comminuted fractures, using modern implants that enhance surgical efficiency and reduce costs. By following key principles of fracture repair, complications can be minimized and outcomes improved.
Through a combination of lectures, clinical case discussions, and hands-on practice, attendees will gain confidence in choosing appropriate fixation methods and performing repairs. Practical sessions include fracture repair on plastic bone models and cadavers.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the biology of bone healing and differentiate between primary and secondary healing
- Review fracture classification systems and fixation strategies
- Learn direct and indirect fracture reduction techniques and when to apply each approach
- Learn the biomechanics of intramedullary pins, cerclage wires, bone screws, and plates, including compression, neutralization, and bridging methods
Program | |
| Time | |
| 8:00 AM | Welcome and Introductions |
| 8:15 AM | Basics of Osteosynthesis – Type of fractures and healing of fractures in small breeds |
| 10:45 AM | Break |
| 11:00 AM | Demo & Dry Lab |
| 12:15 PM | Lunch (included) |
| 1:15 PM | Demo & Wet Lab |
| 4:30 PM | Q&A and Survey |
| 5:00 PM | Conclusion of Course |
Instructor: Dr. Charisse Davidson (DVM, MS, DACVS) |
 |
Dr. Charisse Davidson is a board-certified small animal surgeon with extensive experience in orthopedic, oncologic, and neurologic surgery. She earned her veterinary degree from UC Davis in 1996, followed by a Master’s Degree in Ecology in 1998. After a surgical internship at the Animal Specialty and Emergency Center in Los Angeles, she completed her surgical residency at VetSurg, Inc. in 2004. During her residency and advanced training, Dr. Davidson worked under some of the most accomplished veterinary surgeons in the United States, further developing her expertise across multiple surgical disciplines. She trained in surgical oncology at the Colorado State University Animal Cancer Center and Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Virginia, and advanced her neurosurgical skills under Dr. Levasque at the Veterinary Neurology Center in Nevada. She also studied anesthesiology and pain management at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a focus on advanced pain-control techniques. Dr. Davidson went on to found two specialty veterinary hospitals in the Los Angeles area – CM Surgical Group and Veterinary Specialists of the Valley – before establishing Lone Star Mobile Surgical Services in Texas in 2014. She brings decades of surgical experience and a strong practical perspective to the management of complex small animal surgical cases. |