Distribution of Pelvic Fractures in Racing and Non-racing Sport Horses: A Retrospective Study of 86 Cases Examined in a Referral Centre.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyse the pelvic fracture distribution and location in a referral centre caseload. Methods: Medical records of 6,717 horses examined in a referral centre over a 7-year period were reviewed to identify all horses diagnosed with a pelvic fracture. Eighty-six horses were identified and divided into three disciplines, namely Thoroughbred racehorses (TBR), Standardbred trotter racehorses (STR) and non-racing sport horses (NRSH). Results: A pelvic fracture was diagnosed in 1.3% of the cases examined during the study period. Prevalence was significantly higher in TBR (4.2%) and, regardless of the discipline, in horses under the age of 6 years (2.2%) ( < 0.01). STR were significantly younger than TBR and NRSH at the time of fracture (median ages = 1, 3 and 4 years old, respectively; < 0.01). The fractures occurred most frequently in the ilium (44/86). No ilial wing fractures were diagnosed in STR and isolated acetabular fractures were only diagnosed in foals and yearlings. Fatigue fractures were diagnosed in TBR alone, affecting 9/22 TBR (foals and yearlings excluded) and most often located in the ilial wing (7 fatigue fractures out of the 12 ilial wing fractures) ( < 0.01). The median age of horses suffering from a pelvic fatigue fracture was 4 years. Conclusions: This study confirms that young horses (under the age of 6 years) as well as TBR are likely to be at higher risk of a pelvic fracture. Fatigue fractures of the ilial wing seem to be a rare condition in STR while they are more frequent in young TBR in training.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
Publication Date: 2019-03-28 PubMed ID: 30921825DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1683403Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research studied the distribution of pelvic fractures in sport horses, revealing that young horses and thoroughbred racehorses have a higher risk of such injuries. Furthermore, fatigue fractures of the ilial wing are more common in young thoroughbred racehorses in training.
Research Methodology
- The researchers undertook a detailed analysis of medical records from a referral center over a seven-year time span. The center treated 6,717 horses during this time frame.
- All horses that were diagnosed with a pelvic fracture were identified; this amounted to 86 horses. These 86 horses were then categorized into three groups: Thoroughbred racehorses (TBR), Standardbred trotter racehorses (STR), and non-racing sport horses (NRSH).
Research Findings
- Pelvic fractures were found in 1.3% of the horses examined during the study period. The rate was significantly greater in TBR (4.2%) and in horses below the age of six (2.2%).
- STR horses were significantly younger than TBR and NRSH horses at the time of fracture. The median ages were one, three, and four years old, respectively.
- Ilium fractures were most common, found in 44 of the 86 horses with pelvic fractures. No ilial wing fractures occurred in STR horses, and only foals and yearlings were diagnosed with isolated acetabular fractures.
- Fatigue fractures were only observed in TBR horses, impacting 9 out of 22 TBR (excluding foals and yearlings). Most of these fractures were located on the ilial wing, with 7 fatigue fractures out of the 12 ilial wing fractures.
- The median age of horses suffering from a pelvic fatigue fracture was four years.
Conclusions
- The study confirmed that young horses (below six years) and TBR horses have a higher risk of sustaining a pelvic fracture.
- Fatigue fractures of the ilial wing appear to be a rare condition in STR. In contrast, they are frequent in young TBR horses during training.
Cite This Article
APA
Moiroud CH, Coudry V, Denoix JM.
(2019).
Distribution of Pelvic Fractures in Racing and Non-racing Sport Horses: A Retrospective Study of 86 Cases Examined in a Referral Centre.
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol, 32(3), 215-221.
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1683403 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- CIRALE, Unité 957, BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 14430 Goustranville, France.
- CIRALE, Unité 957, BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 14430 Goustranville, France.
- CIRALE, Unité 957, BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 14430 Goustranville, France.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Female
- Fractures, Bone / etiology
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Hospitals, Animal
- Male
- Pelvic Bones
- Referral and Consultation
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Sports
Conflict of Interest Statement
None declared.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Mortality in Ontario Standardbred Racing: 2003-2015.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 5;11(4).
- Aleman M, Berryhill E, Woolard K, Easton-Jones CA, Kozikowski-Nicholas T, Dyson S, Kilcoyne I. Sidewinder gait in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2122-2131.
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