Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 3/3/2011

Question
Hello. I have a nine month old Alaskan Malamute. He has a greenstick fracture in his right front leg. I think they said just above the joint. He has been in a soft cast for 2 weeks. We took him in to be rewrapped today exactly 2 weeks from the time he broke it. They took the wrap off and said to keep him quiet and calm for a month. My concern is he was not x-rayed again to see how it is healing. He is my jogging partner and I am so worried this is going to give him long term problems that he will not be able to run with me. Do you think 2 weeks is long enough for the cast? Thanks so much for your help. Kristin

Answer
Since it is a greenstick fracture there is no displacement of the bones.  Two weeks in a splinty gives adequate time for some scar tissue to form around the fracture site, but it is not healed until 6 weeks from the injury. I would not advise you to take this dog jogging for a while. Take the puppy back in about 2 weeks and see if the fracture is calcifying or not.