Lag screw fixation of noncomminuted sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in racehorses: 59 cases (1973-1991).
Abstract: Medical records of 59 racehorses with noncomminuted midsagittal proximal phalanx fractures repaired by means of lag screw fixation between 1973 and 1991 were reviewed. Fractures were classified as short incomplete fractures (7), long incomplete fractures (32), complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint (13), and complete fractures extending through the lateral cortex of the proximal phalanx (7). Time from fracture repair to first race following fracture repair, number of racing starts, and fastest race times before and after surgery were obtained from race records and compared among horses grouped by fracture type and between horses that returned to racing and those that did not race. Five horses with short incomplete fractures, 21 horses with long incomplete fractures, 6 horses with complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint, and 5 horses with complete fractures extending to the lateral cortex returned to racing. A significantly lower percentage of horses returned to racing following repair of complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint (46%), than following repair of short incomplete fractures (71%), long incomplete fractures (66%), or complete fractures extending to the lateral cortex (71%). Time from fracture to repair for horses that returned to racing (mean, 14.7 days; range, 1 to 60 days) was not significantly different from that for horses that did not race (mean, 5.8 days; range, 1 to 21 days). For all fracture groups, median number of races before injury was not significantly different from median number of races after repair, and median fastest race time before fracture was not significantly different from median fastest race time after fracture repair.
Publication Date: 1995-04-15 PubMed ID: 7768743
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research examines the successful repair and recovery of racehorses with different types of noncomminuted fractures (where the bone breaks cleanly, without splintering) in the proximal phalanx (a bone in the horse’s foot). The study found that the type of bone fracture and not the timing or technique of surgical repair influenced the likelihood of the horse returning to racing at its pre-injury level.
Methodology
- The study analysed the medical records from 59 racehorses that experienced noncomminuted midsagittal proximal phalanx fractures between 1973 and 1991. These fractures were repaired through lag screw fixation.
- The fractures were categorised into four types: short incomplete fractures, long incomplete fractures, complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint, and complete fractures going through the lateral cortex of the proximal phalanx.
- The researchers compared the time it took from fracture repair to first race post-repair, the number of racing starts, and the fastest race times before and after the surgery. The data was sourced from race records.
Findings
- Out of the four fracture types, a different number of horses returned to racing. Specifically, 5 horses with short incomplete fractures, 21 horses with long incomplete fractures, 6 horses with fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint, and 5 horses with fractures extending to the lateral cortex returned to racing.
- A considerable lower percentage (46%) of horses returned to racing after the repair of complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint, compared to short incomplete fractures (71%), long incomplete fractures (66%), or complete fractures extending to the lateral cortex (71%).
- The time from fracture to repair for horses that returned to racing was not significantly different from that for horses that did not race, indicating that the speed of medical intervention did not appear to impact the outcome.
- The comparison of racing performance pre and post-recovery showed no significant difference in median number of races before injury versus after repair, and median fastest race time before fracture versus after fracture repair. This suggests that the horses were able to return to their pre-injury performance levels after successfully recovering from the fracture.
Conclusion
- The study comes to the conclusion that the type of fracture more significantly impacts the racehorse’s ability to return to racing post-repair than the speed or method of surgical intervention.
- Furthermore, if a horse can successfully return to racing, the type of fracture and repair do not significantly impair the horse’s racing performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Holcombe SJ, Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Gabel AA, Bertone AL, Beard WL.
(1995).
Lag screw fixation of noncomminuted sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in racehorses: 59 cases (1973-1991).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 206(8), 1195-1199.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1089, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Screws / veterinary
- Breeding
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Foot Injuries / surgery
- Foot Injuries / veterinary
- Fractures, Bone / surgery
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / surgery
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Sports
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Lipreri G, Bladon BM, Giorio ME, Singer ER. Conservative versus surgical treatment of 21 sports horses with osseous trauma in the proximal phalangeal sagittal groove diagnosed by low-field MRI.. Vet Surg 2018 Oct;47(7):908-915.
- Noble P, Singer ER, Jeffery NS. Does subchondral bone of the equine proximal phalanx adapt to race training?. J Anat 2016 Jul;229(1):104-13.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
