Arthroscopic guided repair of a slab fracture of the fourth carpal bone in an 8-month-old thoroughbred horse.

This study describes a surgical intervention to treat an 8-month-old thoroughbred horse with a fractured fourth carpal bone and a fractured third metacarpal bone. The procedure performed was an arthroscopic repair of the carpal fracture and a lag screw fixation for the metacarpal bone fracture. The horse was able to begin racing at 32 months old and continued for three years without any issues associated with the previously injured right carpus.

Diagnosis and Intervention

• An 8-month-old thoroughbred colt was presented with sudden onset lameness (difficulty moving) in its right forelimb.
• The veterinary team conducted a radiographic series of the right carpus, which is equivalent to the human wrist. This diagnosis revealed two fractures: a slab fracture of the fourth carpal bone and a fracture of the proximal part of the third metacarpal bone.
• Arthroscopic guided repair was planned for the fractured fourth carpal bone. This is a minimally invasive, camera-guided surgical technique that allows for precise repair of fractures inside a joint.
• The fracture of the proximal part of the third metacarpal bone was treated with lag screw fixation. This involves using a specially designed screw to maintain alignment and stability in the fractured bone.

Post-Surgical Outcome and Follow-Up

• The horse was monitored post-surgery and started to race at 32 months old.
• The horse was able to start in 65 races over three years following the surgery without any trouble associated with the right carpus.
• This shows that the arthroscopic guided repair and lag screw fixation were successful treatments for the fractures.
• This successful case demonstrates the potential effectiveness of these interventions for similar injuries in young horses and contributes to veterinary knowledge in this area.