Evaluation of an interfragmentary compression system for the repair of equine femoral capital physeal fractures.

The research investigates the effectiveness of a human interfragmentary compression system in treating femoral capital physeal fractures in foals, finding that it leads to fracture stability and maintains epiphyseal viability, but may limit longitudinal femoral growth.

Research Method

• The research carried out measurements on femoral neck and proximal epiphyseal lengths in 37 femurs from 19 foal cadavers aged between one day and 12 months.
• This was done to ascertain the feasibility of using a human interfragmentary compression system for treating equine femoral capital physeal fractures.
• The use of the system was found to be possible for foals older than five weeks, but not younger ones due to the fixed sizes of the implant system’s components.

Testing the Implant System

• Femoral capital physeal fractures were surgically created and repaired using the implant system in three foals.
• Fracture stability was observed both clinically and radiographically in all three foals until they were euthanized three months later.

Results Found

• At necropsy, the femurs that were treated were found to be shorter by 4, 8, and 27 mm than their counterparts.
• All three treated foals demonstrated epiphyseal viability, verified by tetracycline deposition and new appositional bone growth at rates comparable to the control epiphyses.
• However, variations were noted in the treated capital physis – it was open but thinner in one foal, unorganized in another, and closed in the third one.
• The findings suggest that while using the implant system for fracture repair provides stability and maintains epiphyseal viability, it can lead to reduced longitudinal femoral growth.