Incomplete oblique sagittal fractures of the dorsal cortex of the third metacarpal bone in six horses.

The research focuses on describing a specific type of horse bone fracture, oblique sagittal dorsal cortical fractures in the third metacarpal, how they were surgically repaired, and how the horses performed after treatment.

Study Overview

• The study retrospectively examines medical records and the subsequent performance of six thoroughbred racehorses aged 2 to 4 years. All horses had been diagnosed with incomplete oblique sagittal dorsal cortical fractures in the third metacarpal bone.
• The selected horses underwent surgical correction after their fractures were confirmed through radiographic testing. The researchers used two different surgical treatments in their study: three fractures were treated using intracortical compression with screws placed in lag fashion, while the remaining five fractures were treated by osteostixis.

The Procedures and Methods

• Fracture diagnosis was done through radiographic confirmation despite the incomplete nature of the fractures. The palmarodorsal radiographic projections provided the most accurate view of the fractures.
• The surgeries performed on the horses were either intracortical compression using screws in lag fashion or osteostixis. The former procedure was implemented on three fractures and the latter on five.

Results and Observations

• Among the horses treated with intracortical compression, all returned to racing after treatment. However, in one of them, the fracture recurred and was to be treated with osteostixis.
• All horses treated with osteostixis also returned to racing after surgery.
• The post-surgery performance of each horse was then assessed by reviewing their racing records.

Study Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that horses with this type of fracture can successfully return to racing following surgical correction using either screws in lag fashion or osteostixis.
• However, the authors noted a preference for managing the fracture with osteostixis—indicating that this may have resulted in better outcomes or fewer complications compared to intracortical compression.
• Lastly, they recommended the use of palmarodorsal radiographic projections for the effective detection of dorsal cortical fractures in the metacarpal bone of young thorougbred racehorses.