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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2019; 247; 44-49; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.03.001

Associations between pre-injury racing history and tibial and humeral fractures in Australian Thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Long bone fractures in racehorses may present as stress fractures which have a good prognosis, or complete fractures, which often result in a fatal outcome. In order to identify differences in modifiable management practices that may contribute to these outcomes, racing histories of horses with humeral or tibial fractures and of matched controls were examined. A retrospective case-control study of Australian Thoroughbred racehorses diagnosed with a fracture of the humerus or tibia by scintigraphy or at post-mortem between 2002 and 2016 was undertaken. Control horses were matched from the same race or trial on age and sex. Statistical analysis was performed using conditional logistic regression, χ and Mann-Whitney U tests. More humeral fractures than tibial fractures were fatal (12/47, 26% vs. 3/35, 8.6%, P = 0.049). No differences in pre-injury racing histories were observed between cases and controls for humeral and tibial fractures. Both humeral and tibial fracture case horses were younger than the registered Thoroughbred racing population (P < 0.001), but horses sustaining humeral fractures were older than those with tibial fractures (3.3 ± 0.9 vs. 2.8 ± 0.8 years, P = 0.005) yet raced fewer times prior to the injury (0.5 ± 1.1 vs. 1.3 ± 1.7 races, P = 0.009). Horses with fatal humeral fractures were less likely to have raced than those with non-fatal humeral fractures (16.7% vs. 55.6%, P = 0.02). In conclusion, tibial and humeral fractures occur in young racehorses, and humeral fractures are more likely to be fatal in those with the least exposure to trialling and racing.
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-03-05 PubMed ID: 30971350DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.03.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research examines the links between the racing history of Australian Thoroughbred racehorses and their likelihood of developing tibial and humeral fractures. It was found that horses with less racing experience are more prone to fatal humeral fractures, while younger horses are more at risk of both kinds of fractures.

Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective case-control study focusing on Australian Thoroughbred racehorses diagnosed with a fracture of the humerus or tibia through scintigraphy or post-mortem between 2002 and 2016.
  • Controls were selected from the same race or trial and were matched based on age and sex.
  • Statistical analysis using conditional logistic regression, χ, and Mann-Whitney U tests were carried out to interpret the data.

Findings

  • It was found that more humeral fractures were fatal compared to tibial fractures (26% vs. 8.6%).
  • The researchers noted that there were no significant differences in pre-injury racing histories between the horses that developed fractures and the control group for both humeral and tibial fractures.
  • Both humeral and tibial fractures were found to be more common in younger horses when compared to the average horse racing population.
  • Horses that sustained humeral fractures were older than those with tibial fractures, however, they had less racing experience prior to the injury.
  • Among horses who had fatal humeral fractures, those with less racing experience were more likely to have this outcome.

Conclusion

  • The findings of the study point towards humeral and tibial fractures occurring more frequently in younger racehorses.
  • In addition, horses with less exposure to trialling and racing were more prone to fatal humeral fractures.

In light of these findings, the researchers suggest possible modifications to current horse management practices, particularly for young and inexperienced horses, in order to prevent such injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
Whitton RC, Walmsley EA, Wong ASM, Shannon SM, Frazer EJ, Williams NJ, Guerow JF, Hitchens PL. (2019). Associations between pre-injury racing history and tibial and humeral fractures in Australian Thoroughbred racehorses. Vet J, 247, 44-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.03.001

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 247
Pages: 44-49
PII: S1090-0233(18)30543-4

Researcher Affiliations

Whitton, R C
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia. Electronic address: cwhitton@unimelb.edu.au.
Walmsley, E A
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.
Wong, A S M
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.
Shannon, S M
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.
Frazer, E J
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.
Williams, N J
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.
Guerow, J F
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.
Hitchens, P L
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Hwy Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Horses / injuries
  • Humeral Fractures / etiology
  • Humeral Fractures / mortality
  • Humeral Fractures / veterinary
  • Male
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Radionuclide Imaging / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sports
  • Tibial Fractures / etiology
  • Tibial Fractures / mortality
  • Tibial Fractures / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Nath L, Stent A, Elliott A, La Gerche A, Franklin S. Risk Factors for Exercise-Associated Sudden Cardiac Death in Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 18;12(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12101297pubmed: 35625143google scholar: lookup
  2. Bowers K, Weinhandl JT, Anderson DE. A review of equine tibial fractures. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):171-181.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13599pubmed: 35569040google scholar: lookup
  3. Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11102950pubmed: 34679971google scholar: lookup
  4. Bartolomé E, Perdomo-González DI, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Valera M. Genetic Parameters of Effort and Recovery in Sport Horses Assessed with Infrared Thermography. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 16;11(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11030832pubmed: 33809482google scholar: lookup
  5. Crawford KL, Ahern BJ, Perkins NR, Phillips CJC, Finnane A. The Effect of Combined Training and Racing High-Speed Exercise History on Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Current Literature. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 11;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10112091pubmed: 33187122google scholar: lookup
  6. Pan M, Malekipour F, Pivonka P, Morrice-West AV, Flegg JA, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. A mathematical model of metacarpal subchondral bone adaptation, microdamage and repair in racehorses. J R Soc Interface 2025 Oct;22(231):20250297.
    doi: 10.1098/rsif.2025.0297pubmed: 41027486google scholar: lookup
  7. Bennet ED, Parkin TDH. Novel risk factors associated with fatal musculoskeletal injury in Thoroughbreds in North American racing (2009-2023). Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):20-30.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14503pubmed: 40134143google scholar: lookup
  8. Morrice-West AV, Thomas M, Wong ASM, Flash M, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Linkage of jockey falls and injuries with racehorse injuries and fatalities in Thoroughbred flat racing in Victoria, Australia. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1481016.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1481016pubmed: 40018508google scholar: lookup
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