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Journal of the South African Veterinary Association2019; 90; e1-e5; doi: 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1640

Catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses on racetracks in Gauteng, South Africa.

Abstract: The incidence and types of catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbreds that resulted in euthanasia on selected racetracks in South Africa between 1998 and 2012 were investigated by an observational retrospective investigation. Data from the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa for these racetracks were used to calculate incidence rates in Thoroughbreds (n = 114) that sustained catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries during racing that required immediate euthanasia, based on the diagnosis made by the on-site veterinarian as well as on fetlock radiographs and dissections of 53 cadaver limbs of horses that sustained a catastrophic musculoskeletal injury. The proximal sesamoid bones and the distal suspensory ligament were involved in 55.26% of horses; 73.58% of the cadaver limb radiographs were of the left forelimb, 64.15% were closed fractures, and 74.47% had biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fractures. Catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries occurred almost exclusively unilaterally and involved mostly the left front leg. The average incidence rate for a catastrophic musculoskeletal injury occurring in a year at any of the tracks was 0.6 of 1000 starts.
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Publication Date: 2019-02-28 PubMed ID: 30843400PubMed Central: PMC7081728DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1640Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 paper looks into the occurrences and types of serious musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred horses that led to euthanasia on specific South African racetracks from 1998 to 2012. The researchers used local data, vet diagnoses, and examinations of 53 horse limbs to reach findings such as that the left front leg was mostly affected and the average yearly injury rate was 0.6 per 1000 starts.

Research Methodology

  • The scientists conducted a retrospective observational study – they looked back at past events and studied the data available to determine patterns.
  • The study used data from the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa specifically regarding Thoroughbreds (n = 114) that experienced catastrophic injuries on selected racetracks between 1998-2012.
  • A catastrophic injury here refers to a severe injury that required the immediate euthanasia of the horse.
  • The diagnosis that led to euthanasia was made by veterinarians present on the site.
  • Researchers also used information from radiograms of the fetlocks – the joint connecting the hoof and the leg – and dissections of 53 cadaver horse limbs that suffered the catastrophic injuries.

Research Findings

  • Major injuries involved the proximal sesamoid bones – two small bones located at the back of the fetlock joint – and the distal suspensory ligament – a ligament in the lower leg – in over half (55.26%) of the injury cases.
  • The majority (73.58%) of the radiographs of cadaver limbs were from the left forelimb of the horse.
  • Of the injuries, 64.15% were closed fractures, and biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fractures were seen in 74.47% of the cases. A closed fracture refers to a break in a bone where the skin is not pierced, and biaxial signifies two axes or directions.
  • Catastrophic injuries usually occurred in only one limb, particularly in the left front leg.
  • The average incidence rate of these incidents was 0.6 per 1000 starts in a year at any of the tracks included in the study.

Cite This Article

APA
Spargo KE, Rubio-Martinez LM, Wheeler DP, Fletcher L, Carstens A. (2019). Catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses on racetracks in Gauteng, South Africa. J S Afr Vet Assoc, 90, e1-e5. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v90i0.1640

Publication

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
ISSN: 2224-9435
NlmUniqueID: 7503122
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 90
Pages: e1-e5
PII: 1640

Researcher Affiliations

Spargo, Keith E
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, University of Pretoria. keithspargo@yahoo.com.
Rubio-Martinez, Luis M
    Wheeler, Dale P
      Fletcher, Lizelle
        Carstens, Ann

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
          • Fractures, Bone / etiology
          • Fractures, Bone / mortality
          • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horse Diseases / etiology
          • Horse Diseases / mortality
          • Horses / injuries
          • Incidence
          • Ligaments / injuries
          • Retrospective Studies
          • Running
          • South Africa
          • Sports
          • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
          • Wounds and Injuries / etiology
          • Wounds and Injuries / mortality
          • Wounds and Injuries / veterinary

          Conflict of Interest Statement

          The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 6 times.
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