Factors associated with racing performance of Thoroughbreds undergoing lag screw repair of condylar fractures of the third metacarpal or metatarsal bone.

This research paper analyzes the impact of different factors, such as sex, fracture configuration, the affected limb and screw placement on the performance of racing Thoroughbreds after undergoing surgery for condylar fractures in the third metacarpal or metatarsal bone.

Objective and Methods

• The aim of the study was to gauge the influence of various parameters on the post-surgery outcome of Thoroughbreds that have undergone lag screw repair for condylar fractures in their third metacarpal/metatarsal bones.
• A total of 56 horses were included in the study and their age, sex, affected limb, fracture configuration and length, fracture fragment width, and the location of the most distal screw relative to the articular surface were studied using logistic regression models.

Results

• The study found that females were more likely to have displaced fractures and partake in fewer races post-surgery compared to males. The gender and fracture configuration of the horses were found to be associated with the number of races they participate in after surgery.
• Out of the horses that returned to racing, horses with thicker fracture fragments had 11 times the odds of winning a race after surgery compared to those with thinner fracture fragments.
• Conversely, horses with longer fractures and older horses partook in fewer races post-surgery. Horses in which the most distal screw was placed farther from the joint surface participated in a higher number of races.

Conclusions

• The results suggest that female horses with displaced condylar fractures and male horses with nondisplaced condylar fractures are more likely to be referred for treatment. However, the effect of the horse’s sex on the outcome cannot be clearly separated from the effect of fracture configuration.
• After adjusting for fracture configuration, males are six times more likely than females to participate in races after surgery. After adjusting for gender, horses with nondisplaced fractures are 17 times more likely than those with displaced fractures to race after surgery.
• Based on the results, the most distal screw should be placed above the epicondylar fossa.