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The Veterinary record2022; 190(10); e1482; doi: 10.1002/vetr.1482

Incidence of carpal fractures and risk factors for recurrent fractures after arthroscopic removal of carpal chip fracture fragments in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: We aimed to investigate the recent incidence of carpal fractures and the risk factors for recurrent ipsilateral fractures after arthroscopic removal of clinically active unilateral carpal chip fracture fragments in Thoroughbred racehorses. The findings for horses managed under the Japan Racing Association that developed carpal bone fractures between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The proportion of cases that developed a recurrent carpal fracture in the originally affected joint was calculated, and the risk factors for recurrent fractures were analysed. In total, 2858 carpal fractures were recorded in the study period (incidence, 0.8%). Of the 554 horses that resumed racing after the treatment of the unilateral major carpal chip fracture, 144 had a recurrent fracture (26.0%). Chip fractures of the third carpal bone (odds ratio [OR]: 3.7) or a combination of the distal end of the radius and intermediate carpal bone (OR: 3.0) were associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrent fractures than the distal aspect of the radial carpal bone. The incidence of carpal fractures remained similar to that reported in Japan in the 1990s. The rate of recurrent ipsilateral fractures differed among lesion sites.
Publication Date: 2022-02-28 PubMed ID: 35229298DOI: 10.1002/vetr.1482Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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This research aimed to understand the incidence of carpal bone fractures and risk factors for recurrence after arthroscopic removal of fracture fragments in Thoroughbred racehorses. The study, conducted under the Japan Racing Association, found that fractures of the third carpal bone or certain combinations of bones significantly increased the risk of such fractures recurring.

Study Details

  • The authors carried out their study on Thoroughbred racehorses under the management of the Japan Racing Association. They focused specifically on horses that developed carpal bone fractures between 2014 and 2018.
  • The study was retrospective in nature, meaning it looked back at past records rather than conducting an experiment in real-time.

Investigation and Findings

  • The researches discovered that a total of 2858 carpal fractures occurred within the study period. This equates to an incidence rate of 0.8%.
  • The researchers then calculated the proportion of cases that developed a recurrent carpal fracture in the joint that was initially affected.
  • Out of the 554 horses that resumed racing after treatment of a major unilateral carpal chip fracture, 144 of them had a recurrent fracture, indicating a recurrence rate of 26.0%.

Risk Factors for Recurrent Fractures

  • The study further analyzed the risk factors that could contribute to recurrent fractures.
  • Significant risk factors that were identified include chip fractures of the third carpal bone with an odds ratio of 3.7, and a combination of the distal end of the radius with the intermediate carpal bone with an odds ratio of 3.0.

Comparative Assessment

  • In their study, it was deduced that the incidence of carpal fractures in these thoroughbred racehorses remained similar to those reported in Japan in the 1990s.
  • However, their research also found that the rate of recurrent ipsilateral fractures showed variations depending on the site of the original lesion.

Cite This Article

APA
Mita H, Tamura N, Fukuda K, Kuroda T, Kuwano A, Sato F. (2022). Incidence of carpal fractures and risk factors for recurrent fractures after arthroscopic removal of carpal chip fracture fragments in Thoroughbred racehorses. Vet Rec, 190(10), e1482. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.1482

Publication

ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 190
Issue: 10
Pages: e1482

Researcher Affiliations

Mita, Hiroshi
  • Clinical Veterinary Medicine Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
Tamura, Norihisa
  • Clinical Veterinary Medicine Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
Fukuda, Kentaro
  • Clinical Veterinary Medicine Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
Kuroda, Taisuke
  • Clinical Veterinary Medicine Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
Kuwano, Atsutoshi
  • Clinical Veterinary Medicine Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.
Sato, Fumio
  • Clinical Veterinary Medicine Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Carpal Bones / surgery
  • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
  • Fractures, Bone / etiology
  • Fractures, Bone / surgery
  • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Incidence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

References

This article includes 15 references
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Citations

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