[Fracture of the 1st phalanx in the horse].

The study discusses the treatment of 28 first phalanx fractures in horses, with the majority being treated with osteosynthesis. The treatments were followed by immobilisation and later removal of implants, with all horses being able to participate in sports again.

Study in Detail

• This research is based on 28 cases of first phalanx fractures in horses. The first phalanx bone is equivalent to our middle finger bone, and when it fractures, it can severely hamper a horse’s ability to walk or run.
• Of these 28, 21 (almost 75%) were treated with a surgical procedure called osteosynthesis. Osteosynthesis is a surgical operation to stabilize and join the ends of broken (fractured) bones by mechanical devices such as metal plates, pins, rods, wires or screws.
• For each of these 21 horses, 2 to 4 compression screws were applied during the procedure. Compression screws are a specific type of hardware in osteosynthesis used to bring the fractured bone ends together and promote healing.
• After the surgery, the lower part of the horse’s limb was immobilized with a light cast bandage for 8 days. This was to allow the incision to heal and to prevent the horse from putting weight on the bone too soon.
• The implants (screws) were removed 2-3 months after the operation. This is fairly standard procedure, as the screws are usually only needed temporarily while the bone heals. Once healing is adequate, the implants can be removed to prevent long-term complications.
• All the horses that underwent this treatment protocol were again used in sports. This suggests a great success rate in terms of not only healing the fracture, but also restoring the horses to their previous levels of function and activity.
• Interestingly, it was mentioned that one horse was treated conservatively. This means the horse likely received non-surgical treatment, perhaps rest and pain management. However, the study does not elaborate on the reason behind this choice or the outcome for this particular horse.

Implications of the Research

• The results offer valuable insights into the potential treatment options for first phalanx fractures in horses.
• This research suggests osteosynthesis surgery, followed by a specific post-surgical protocol, can be effective for healing first phalanx fractures in horses and returning them to their previous athletic function.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the conservative treatment method, as only one horse in this study was treated in this way.