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Equine veterinary journal2018; 51(1); 77-82; doi: 10.1111/evj.12953

Noncatastrophic and catastrophic fractures in racing Thoroughbreds at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Abstract: Reports of fractures in racehorses have predominantly focused on catastrophic injuries, and there are limited data identifying the location and incidence of fractures that did not result in a fatal outcome. Objective: To describe the nature and the incidence of noncatastrophic and catastrophic fractures in Thoroughbreds racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) over seven racing seasons. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Data of fractures sustained in horses while racing and of race characteristics were extracted from the HKJC Veterinary Management Information System (VMIS) and Racing Information System (RIS), respectively. The fracture event was determined from the first clinical entry for each specific injury. The incidence rates of noncatastrophic and catastrophic fractures were calculated per 1000 racing starts for racetrack, age, racing season, sex and trainer. Results: One hundred and seventy-nine first fracture events occurred in 64,807 racing starts. The incidence rate of noncatastrophic fractures was 2.2 per 1000 racing starts and of catastrophic fractures was 0.6 per 1000 racing starts. Fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones represented 55% of all catastrophic fractures, while the most common noncatastrophic fractures involved the carpus and the first phalanx. Significant associations were detected between the incidence of noncatastrophic fractures and sex, trainer and racing season. Conclusions: The first fracture event was used to calculate the incidence rate in this study and may have resulted in underestimation of the true incidence rate of fractures in this population. However, given the low number of recorded fracture events compared with the size of the study population, this underestimation is likely to be small. Conclusions: There were 3.6 times as many noncatastrophic fractures as catastrophic fractures in Thoroughbreds racing in Hong Kong between 2004 and 2011. Noncatastrophic fractures interfere with race training schedules and may predispose to catastrophic fracture. Future analytical studies on noncatastrophic racing fractures should be a priority for the racing industry.
© 2018 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2018-05-17 PubMed ID: 29672909DOI: 10.1111/evj.12953Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 paper focuses on noncatastrophic and catastrophic fractures in Thoroughbreds racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) over seven seasons. It aims to understand the nature, incidence, and factors contributing to such injuries, and highlights the need for future studies on noncatastrophic racing fractures in order to better prevent and manage them within the racing industry.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study. They used data from the HKJC’s Veterinary Management Information System (VMIS) and Racing Information System (RIS) to identify instances of fractures in racing horses.
  • The first clinical entry for each specific injury was considered as the fracture event for the study.
  • The incidence of noncatastrophic and catastrophic fractures was calculated by considering factors such as racetrack, the age of the horse, racing season, sex of the horse, and trainer.

Study Findings

  • The study found 179 first fracture events in 64,807 racing starts. The incidence rate of noncatastrophic fractures was 2.2 per 1,000 racing starts, while that of catastrophic fractures was 0.6 per 1,000.
  • Most catastrophic fractures were of the proximal sesamoid bones, making up 55% of all such injuries. Noncatastrophic fractures, on the other hand, primarily involved the carpus and the first phalanx.
  • Associations were found between the incidence of noncatastrophic fractures and factors including the horse’s sex, the trainer, and the racing season.

Study Conclusions

  • The study relied on the first fracture event to calculate the incidence rate. This method might result in underestimation of the actual incidence rate. However, given the low number of recorded fractures relative to the size of the population, this underestimation is likely minimal.
  • The study found more noncatastrophic fractures than catastrophic ones, with the former being 3.6 times as prevalent. However, noncatastrophic fractures can disrupt training schedules and may increase the likelihood of catastrophic fractures.
  • The findings suggest that the racing industry should prioritize further studies into noncatastrophic racing fractures, aiming to better understand, prevent, and manage these injuries.

Cite This Article

APA
Sun TC, Riggs CM, Cogger N, Wright J, Al-Alawneh JI. (2018). Noncatastrophic and catastrophic fractures in racing Thoroughbreds at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Equine Vet J, 51(1), 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12953

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 1
Pages: 77-82

Researcher Affiliations

Sun, T C
  • University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Riggs, C M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Services, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong, China.
Cogger, N
  • Massey University, EpiCentre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Wright, J
  • University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
Al-Alawneh, J I
  • University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Distribution
  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Cohort Studies
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
  • Fractures, Bone / etiology
  • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Horses / classification
  • Horses / injuries
  • Incidence
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Male
  • Physical Examination / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Running / injuries
  • Sesamoid Bones / injuries
  • Sex Distribution

Grant Funding

  • University of Queensland

Citations

This article has been cited 20 times.
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