Outcome and racing performance after internal fixation of third and central tarsal bone slab fractures in horses. A review of 20 cases.
Abstract: Twenty horses with central and third tarsal bone slab fractures, were treated internal fixation. Eighteen of the 20 cases were Standardbred trotters, one was a Thoroughbred racehorse and one a Swedish Warmblood. The central tarsal bone (CT) was involved in 12 cases and the third tarsal bone (T3) in 8 cases. The fractures were treated by lag screw fixation with one (18 cases) or two (2 cases) 3.5 or 4.5 mm cortical screws. Horses were confined to stall rest for one month and then put on a gradually increasing exercise programme. Convalescence time was 3-8 months until the fracture had healed and training could be resumed. Fifteen of the horses regained athletic soundness. Thirteen of the horses (72%) raced after surgery (12 Standardbreds and 1 Thoroughbred). Nine (69%) of these 13 horses won races after surgery. Denna studie är en uppföljning av 20 fall av frakturer på tredje och centrala tarsalbenet vilka behandlats med intern fixering. Av de 20 fallen var 18 varmblodstravare, en var fullblodshäst och en var svenskt halvblod. Det centrala tarsalbenet var involverat i 12 fall och det tredje tarsalbenet i 8 fall. Frakturerna behandlades med intern fixering medelst en eller två 3.5 eller 4.5 mm kortikala skruvar. Hästarna boxvilades strikt i en månad, varefter de sattes på ett gradvis ökande motionsprogram. Konvalescenstiden tills frakturen läkt och träningen kunde återupptas var 3 till 8 månader. Femton av hästarna återfick sin prestationsförmåga. Tretton av hästarna (72%) deltog i löpningar efter operationen och nio (69%) av dessa vann.
Publication Date: 1999-12-22 PubMed ID: 10605133PubMed Central: PMC8043157DOI: 10.1186/BF03547034Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article examines the outcomes of surgical treatments on horses suffering from central and third tarsal bone fractures. It specifically delves into the post-surgery racing performance of 20 treated horses, with positive results observed in the majority of the cases.
Research Context and Group Sample
- The study focuses on the post-surgery performance history of 20 horses which suffered from fractures in their third (T3) and central tarsal (CT) bone.
- The majority (18 out of the 20) are Standardbred trotters, often associated with harness racing. The other two horses were a Thoroughbred racehorse and a Swedish Warmblood.
Type of Fracture and Surgical Procedure
- From all cases, 12 had the CT bone fractured, while the remaining 8 had the T3 bone fractured.
- The fractures were treated through internal fixation, a surgical method which involves the use of lag screws, which can be inserted into the fractured bone, holding the pieces together as the bone heals.
- One or two 3.5 or 4.5mm cortical screws were used in the treatment, depending on the severity and type of the fracture.
Post-Surgery Recovery and Performance
- After the surgery, the horses were kept in stall rest for a month, following which a gradually increasing exercise program was introduced. The full convalescence period ranged from 3 to 8 months.
- Among the treated horses, 15 managed to regain their athletic soundness after the recovery period.
- Thirteen of the total twenty horses, approximately 72%, went on to participate in horse races after surgery. Among these, nine, or 69%, managed to win their races. These wins indicate effective treatment with little to no impact on their racing performance.
The research, hence, delves into the impact of internal fixation surgery on the racing performance of horses, with successful outcomes in a majority of the cases. The study provides important insights on recovery times, race participation rates, and post-surgery performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Winberg FG, Pettersson H.
(1999).
Outcome and racing performance after internal fixation of third and central tarsal bone slab fractures in horses. A review of 20 cases.
Acta Vet Scand, 40(2), 173-180.
https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547034 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Large Animal Department, Regional Animal Hospital, Helsingborg, Sweden.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / veterinary
- Fractures, Bone / therapy
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Lameness, Animal / therapy
- Male
- Radiography
- Sweden
- Tarsus, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Tarsus, Animal / injuries
- Treatment Outcome
References
This article includes 12 references
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