Clinical use of the locking compression plate (LCP) in horses: a retrospective study of 31 cases (2004-2006).
Abstract: Fracture repair and arthrodesis in horses require rigid fixation in order to achieve early post operative comfort. The locking compression plate (LCP) was designed to allow greater stability and less periosteal disruption than conventional plates. Objective: To describe a series of clinical cases in which the LCP was used for fracture stabilisation or arthrodesis. Methods: Medical records, radiographs and follow-up for 31 horses having fracture stabilisation or arthrodesis with the LCP were reviewed. Reasons for treatment included fracture of the olecranon (n = 2), metatarsal III (n = 2), ilial shaft (n = 1), femur (n = 2), radius (n = 2), medial condylar (n = 5) and complex lateral condylar (n = 1); or arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint (n = 8), proximal interphalangeal joint (n = 8) and carpus (n = 2). Results: Of the 31 horses, 27 were discharged from the hospital. Complications included incisional infection (32%), implant infection (19%), implant loosening/ breakage (22%), contralateral limb laminitis (16%), colic (3%) and diarrhoea (3%). Follow-up was available on all horses with at least 6 weeks of follow-up ranging up to 25 months. Of the 31 horses, 25 are sound for intended purpose, one is lame and 5 were subjected to euthanasia for complications associated with the original injury. Conclusions: The LCP is an acceptable means of fracture stabilisation and arthrodesis in the horse. Conclusions: The LCP should be considered for difficult fracture configurations and arthrodeses, especially when increased stability of the fixation is needed.
Publication Date: 2007-10-04 PubMed ID: 17910263DOI: 10.2746/042516407x196555Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research looks into the use of the locking compression plate (LCP) in horses for fracture repair and arthrodesis. It looks at 31 cases where the LCP was used and discusses the results and potential complications.
Methods
- The researchers evaluated medical records, radiographs, and follow-up data for 31 horses that underwent fracture stabilisation or arthrodesis using an LCP.
- The injuries requiring treatment varied between different types of fractures, such as fractures of the olecranon, metatarsal III, ilial shaft, femur, radius, medial condylar, and complex lateral condylar; or arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint, proximal interphalangeal joint, and carpus.
Results
- Out of the 31 horses, 27 were able to be discharged from the hospital after treatment.
- Various complications were observed, like incisional infection (32%), implant infection (19%), and implant loosening or breakage (22%). A few horses also experienced contralateral limb laminitis (16%), colic (3%), and diarrhea (3%).
- All horses had at least 6 weeks of follow-up information available, with some horses being observed for as long as 25 months. Out of the 31 horses, 25 were sound for their intended purpose, one was lame and five had to be euthanized due to complications associated with their original injury.
Conclusions
- Based on the gathered data, the researchers concluded that the LCP is an acceptable tool for fracture stabilization and arthrodesis in horses.
- The study suggests that in cases dealing with difficult fracture configurations and arthrodeses, particularly when increased stability of the fixation is needed, the LCP is a viable option to be considered.
Cite This Article
APA
Levine DG, Richardson DW.
(2007).
Clinical use of the locking compression plate (LCP) in horses: a retrospective study of 31 cases (2004-2006).
Equine Vet J, 39(5), 401-406.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x196555 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, 382 West Street Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania 19348-1692, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthrodesis / methods
- Arthrodesis / veterinary
- Bone Plates / veterinary
- Bone Screws / veterinary
- Follow-Up Studies
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / veterinary
- Fractures, Bone / surgery
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / methods
- Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / veterinary
- Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Daniels A, Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Hendrickson DA. Evaluation of factors associated with surgical site infection in equine proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis: 54 cases (2010-2019). Vet Med Sci 2022 Jul;8(4):1478-1488.
- Watkins AR, Hopster K, Levine D, Hurcombe SD. Cervical Epidural Spinal Analgesia for Acute Management of Severe Unilateral Forelimb Lameness: Case Report. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:749713.
- Marcondes GM, Paretsis NF, Souza AF, Ruivo MRBA, Rego MAF, Nóbrega FS, Cortopassi SRG, De Zoppa ALDV. Locking compression plate fixation of critical-sized bone defects in sheep. Development of a model for veterinary bone tissue engineering. Acta Cir Bras 2021;36(6):e360601.
- Ribitsch I, Oreff GL, Jenner F. Regenerative Medicine for Equine Musculoskeletal Diseases. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 19;11(1).
- Derham AM, Johnson JP, Kearney CM, O'Leary JM. Surgical repair of a depressed, comminuted fracture of the zygomatic process of the frontal bone using a locking compression plate in a Thoroughbred colt foal. Clin Case Rep 2019 Jan;7(1):110-114.
- Zedler S, Jukic C, van Eps A, Stefanovski D, Genton M, Rossignol F. Ex vivo biomechanical testing of a three-dimensional printed titanium plate and spacer construct and 4.5 mm locking compression plate for ventral cervical fusion of C4-C5 in the horse. Vet Surg 2025 Oct;54(7):1344-1352.
- Turek B, Jankowski K, Pawlikowski M, Jasiński T, Domino M. Innovative approach in the treatment of comminuted proximal phalanx fractures in horses based on biomechanical modelling. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 19;15(1):13562.
- Orozco Lopez D, Garcia-Lopez JM, Carpenter R, Bras JJ, Richardson DW, Ortved KF. Treatment of traumatic disruption of the suspensory apparatus in Thoroughbred racehorses at risk of proximal interphalangeal joint subluxation using a locking compression-distal femur plate for double arthrodesis. Vet Surg 2025 Apr;54(3):439-452.
- Mita H, Kuroda T, Niwa H, Tamura N, Fukuda K, Ohta M. Incidence of surgical site infection after internal fixation of the first phalangeal bone and the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses. J Equine Sci 2023 Sep;34(3):61-66.
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