Diagnostic approach to catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses.
Abstract: Catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries are the most common cause of euthanasia or spontaneous death in racehorses, and the most common cause of jockey falls with potential for serious human injury. Horses are predisposed to the vast majority of these injuries by preexisting lesions that can be prevented by early diagnosis and adequate bone injury management. A thorough examination of the musculoskeletal system in racehorses often determines the cause of these injuries and generates data to develop injury prevention strategies. We describe the diagnostic approach to musculoskeletal injury, review the methodology for the examination of racehorse limbs, and provide anatomy and pathology tools to perform an organized and thorough postmortem examination of the musculoskeletal system in equine athletes.
Publication Date: 2017-01-08 PubMed ID: 28065163DOI: 10.1177/1040638716685598Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study outlines the approach to diagnosing and addressing catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses, emphasizing early detection and management of pre-existing conditions as preventive measures, and the value of these findings in formulating injury prevention strategies.
Background and Problem Statement
- Catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries are the primary reasons for euthanizing racehorses or their spontaneous death.
- Such injuries also lead to jockey falls, making them a human safety concern as well.
- The majority of these injuries are predisposed by existing conditions in the horse which, if detected and managed early, could be prevented.
Examination of the Musculoskeletal System in Racehorses
- The study asserts the importance of thorough examinations of a racehorse’s musculoskeletal system to determine the root cause of injuries.
- Methodology for examining a racehorse’s limbs is reviewed in order to identify potential issues.
- Such examinations also contribute to generating valuable data that can contribute to the creation of injury prevention strategies.
Diagnostic Approach
- The paper presents a diagnostic approach to musculoskeletal injury in racehorses.
- This includes a review of the anatomy and pathology tools required to conduct an organized postmortem examination of the horse’s musculoskeletal system.
- The findings from these postmortem examinations are integral to understanding the injuries and their causes, leading to improved preventative measures.
Concluding Remarks
- Overall, the research advocates for early detection, in-depth diagnosis, and effective management of pre-existing lesions to prevent catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses.
- This effort not only safeguards the horse’s well-being, but also the safety of the jockeys, and contributes valuable insights towards devising effective injury prevention strategies that can help the equine industry at large.
Cite This Article
APA
Diab SS, Stover SM, Carvallo F, Nyaoke AC, Moore J, Hill A, Arthur R, Uzal FA.
(2017).
Diagnostic approach to catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 29(4), 405-413.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638716685598 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University of California, Davis, CA (Diab) and San Bernardino, CA (Uzal, Carvallo, Nyaoke, Moore).
- J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Stover).
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA (Arthur).
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone and Bones / injuries
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Muscle, Skeletal / injuries
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Stover S, Uzal FA. Autopsies are required for all racehorses at most U.S. racetracks. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Nov;34(6):925-926.
- Samol MA, Uzal FA, Blanchard PC, Arthur RM, Stover SM. Sudden death caused by spinal cord injury associated with vertebral fractures and fetlock failure in a Thoroughbred racehorse. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Jul;33(4):788-791.
- Bellone RR, Ocampo NR, Hughes SS, Le V, Arthur R, Finno CJ, Penedo MCT. Warmblood fragile foal syndrome type 1 mutation (PLOD1 c.2032G>A) is not associated with catastrophic breakdown and has a low allele frequency in the Thoroughbred breed. Equine Vet J 2020 May;52(3):411-414.
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