Orthopedic infections in equine long bone fractures and arthrodeses treated by internal fixation: 192 cases (1990-2006).

The research article investigates the rate of postoperative infection in horses after they undergo a surgical procedure to repair long bone fractures or carry out arthrodeses using internal fixation techniques. Additionally, the study identifies the risk factors associated with this type of infection.

Methods

• The study involved a case series of 192 horses that had undergone surgical repair for fractures of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones, radius, ulna, humerus, tibia, and femur, or arthrodesis using internal fixation techniques.
• Researchers examined medical records spanning a period from 1990 to 2006, reviewing details such as the horse’s signalment, the anatomic location of the injury, the classification of the fracture and the method of repair, the technique used and duration of the surgery, any bacterial species isolated, the horse’s postoperative care, the onset of postoperative infection (POI), and the ultimate outcome.

Results

• Out of the 192 horses, 157 (82%) were successfully discharged from the hospital. However, 53 horses (28% of the total) developed postoperative infections, of which 31 (around 59% of the infected horses) were able to be discharged.
• Repairs without postoperative infection were over seven times more likely to result in a successful discharge from the hospital.
• Closed fractures (89% of the cases) were over four times more likely to avoid infection and be discharged successfully compared to open fractures (11% of the cases).
• Choosing closed reduction and internal fixation was associated with a 2.5-fold reduction in the rate of POI and almost six times higher chance for the horses to be discharged from the hospital compared to open reduction and internal fixation techniques.
• Females demonstrated a noticeable trend for an increased rate of POI compared with colts and stallions but not geldings.

Conclusions

• The overall rate of postoperative infection was 28% among the studied cases.
• Significant risk factors for postoperative infection were fracture classification, the method of repair, the gender of the horse, and the duration of the surgical procedure.