Here is the final continuation of the story of our Duke's leg fracture.
http://www.roadsend-papillons-phalenes.com/2011/10/fractures-of-radius-and-ulna-bones-in.html
http://www.roadsend-papillons-phalenes.com/2011/10/papillon-roads-end-duke-recovery-from.html
It has bee 12 weeks now since he broke his front leg, and today , he had his last veterinarian check-up on it.
Duke has recovered fully; it was decided to leave the pin in his bone , because it does not seem to hinder, or bother him at all. The pin can be pulled out at any time.
Please also note, that the vet did actually a simple thing by inserting into the bone a pin, and giving the leg a splint in the first few weeks post surgery. I feel that the simpler things sometimes work better, and it was definitely a lot less trauma for the dog.
Other veterinarians may recommend to you much more complicated ways to "fix" a leg like this.
An example is to attach a plate with screws to the broken bone, to hold it in place. The radius bone on a small toy breed is a very tiny bone, straw size or less.Think about it: a plate and screws? It also requires 2 surgeries: one is to sedate him to put a splint to hold the leg, till the specialist gets ready to do the actual surgery to apply the plate to his radius bone.
http://www.roadsend-papillons-phalenes.com/2009/10/anesthesia-papillons.html
Duke 's leg turned out to be nice and straight again , as nothing ever happened.