FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary surgery : VS2025; doi: 10.1111/vsu.14313

Outcome of arthroscopic debridement for the treatment of incomplete third carpal bone slab fractures in racehorses.

Abstract: To describe the outcomes of arthroscopic debridement of third carpal bone (C3) incomplete slab fractures (ISF) in racehorses. Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: Horses undergoing arthroscopic debridement of ISF of C3. Methods: The medical records of horses surgically treated for ISF of C3 were reviewed. Age, sex, breed, limb, fracture configuration, preoperative radiographs, arthroscopic findings, postoperative intraarticular therapies, and exercise recommendations were recorded. Racing performance was obtained from online databases. Univariable analyses were used to determine associations between independent variables and outcomes. Results: A total of 33 horses fit the criteria. There were 19 Thoroughbreds and 14 Standardbreds. The postoperative racing rate was 66.7% (22/33 horses). There was no statistically significant difference in outcome between dorsal and sagittal fractures or breeds. There were no significant differences in earnings per start or total earnings before and after surgery. Several horses showed an increase in racing frequency and an increase in earnings post-injury. Most horses, 81.8% (27/33), had at least one career start prior to undergoing surgery. The median convalescent period was 247.1 days. Conclusions: Early diagnosis and subsequent arthroscopic debridement of C3 ISF was a viable treatment approach with a favorable prognosis for racing postoperatively. Conclusions: Early detection and arthroscopic debridement of ISF before progression to a complete slab fracture and/or subsequent osteoarthritis of the joint could improve athletic outcomes.
© 2025 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2025-07-09 PubMed ID: 40631710DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14313Google Scholar: Lookup
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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 study discusses the effects of arthroscopic debridement for the treatment of an incomplete third carpal bone slab fractures in racehorses, revealing that early diagnosis and suitable treatment can result in a favorable prognosis for racing post operation.

Research Methodology

  • The research applied a retrospective case study where horses underwent arthroscopic debridement, a minimally invasive procedure, for third carpal bone incomplete slab fractures.
  • Data from various aspects were analyzed – age, sex, breed, limb, fracture configuration, pre and postoperative conditions corroborated with radiographs, arthroscopic findings, intraarticular therapies after surgery, and exercise recommendations.
  • The information about the racing performance of these horses was acquired from online databases.
  • To establish relationships between different variables and outcomes, univariable analyses (analysis where one single variable is studied) were used.

Results

  • A total of 33 horses qualified for the study. The breed of horses included 19 Thoroughbreds and 14 Standardbreds.
  • The rate of horses returning to racing post-operation was found to be 66.7% (22/33 horses), proving the effectiveness of the procedure.
  • An interesting discovery was that there was no significant variation in outcomes between races with dorsal and sagittal fractures, or breeds.
  • Similarly, there was no significant difference between the earnings per start or total earnings of the horses before and after surgery. Some even presented increased earnings and race frequency post-injury.
  • A majority of the horses (81.8% or 27/33) had participated in at least one race before the surgery.
  • The median period horses required to recover was around 247.1 days.

Conclusions

  • The research concludes that early diagnosis and subsequent arthroscopic debridement of an incomplete third carpal bone slab fracture is an effective treatment method, with a promising prognosis for postoperative racing.
  • Additionally, it suggested that early detection and appropriate treatment of an incomplete slab fracture could possibly prevent its progression to a complete slab fracture or subsequent osteoarthritis in the joint, thereby improving athletic outcomes for the horse.

Cite This Article

APA
Garcia-Collao MR, Curtiss AL, Hogan PM. (2025). Outcome of arthroscopic debridement for the treatment of incomplete third carpal bone slab fractures in racehorses. Vet Surg. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14313

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Garcia-Collao, Miriam R
  • Hogan Equine LLC, Cream Ridge, New Jersey, USA.
Curtiss, Alexandra L
  • Hogan Equine LLC, Cream Ridge, New Jersey, USA.
Hogan, Patricia M
  • Hogan Equine LLC, Cream Ridge, New Jersey, USA.

References

This article includes 26 references
  1. Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Gabel AA, Barone LM, Kantrowitz BM. Incidence, location and classification of 371 third carpal bone fractures in 313 horses.. Equine Vet J 1988;20(s6):33‐42.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb04646.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  2. Dash RF, Minshall GJ, Wright IM. Comparison of radiography and CT for the evaluation of third carpal bone slab fractures in thoroughbred racehorses.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2023;64(4):661‐668.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.13255google scholar: lookup
  3. Nagy A, Dyson S. Magnetic resonance anatomy of the carpus of the horse described from images acquired from low‐field and high‐field magnets.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2011;52(3):273‐283.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2010.01773.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  4. Hagenbach M, Bierau J, Cruz AM. Visualization of anatomical structures in the carpal region of the horse using cone beam computed tomography in comparison with conventional multidetector computed tomography.. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:11.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1431777google scholar: lookup
  5. Wright I. Fractures in the horse.. Fractures in the Horse 1st ed. Wiley; 2022.
    doi: 10.1002/9781119431749.fmattergoogle scholar: lookup
  6. McIlwraith CW, Wright I, Nixon AJ. Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse.. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2015.
    doi: 10.1016/b978-0-7234-3693-5.00007-2google scholar: lookup
  7. Doering AK, Reesink HL, Luedke LK. Return to racing after surgical management of third carpal bone slab fractures in thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses.. Vet Surg 2019;48(4):513‐523.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.13193google scholar: lookup
  8. Kraus BM, Ross MW, Boston RC. Surgical and nonsurgical management of sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone in racehorses: 32 cases (1991–2001).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;226(6):945‐950.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.2005.226.945google scholar: lookup
  9. Tallon R, O'Neill H, Bladon B. Sagittal plane slab fractures of the third carpal bone in 45 racing thoroughbred horses.. Equine Vet J 2020;52(5):692‐698.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13230google scholar: lookup
  10. Engiles JB, Stewart H, Janes J, Kennedy LA. A diagnostic pathologist's guide to carpal disease in racehorses.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2017;29(4):414‐430.
    doi: 10.1177/1040638717710238google scholar: lookup
  11. Beroza GA, Richardson DW, Beroza GA. Subchondral lucency of the third carpal bone in standardbred racehorses: 13 cases (1982–1988).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989;195(5):789‐794.
  12. Hopper BJ, Steel C, Richardson JL, Alexander GR, Robertson ID. Radiographic evaluation of sclerosis of the third carpal bone associated with exercise and the development of lameness in standardbred racehorses.. Equine Vet J 2004;36(5):441‐446.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164044868341google scholar: lookup
  13. Bramlage LR, Schneider RK, Gabel AA. A clinical perspective on lameness originating in the carpus.. Equine Vet J 1988;20(s6):12‐18.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb04642.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  14. Spriet M. Positron emission tomography: a horse in the musculoskeletal imaging race.. Am J Vet Res 2022;83(7):ajvr.22.03.0051.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.22.03.0051google scholar: lookup
  15. Sweeney DM, Holmström M, Donohue KD, Lambert DH, Bayly WM. Using accelerometers to identify a high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury in three racing thoroughbreds.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2024;262(9):1‐1250.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.24.02.0114google scholar: lookup
  16. Fugazzola MC, Van Weeren PR. Surgical osteochondral defect repair in the horse—a matter of form or function?. Equine Vet J 2020;52(4):489‐499.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13231google scholar: lookup
  17. Martin GS, Haynes PF, McClure JR. Effect of third carpal slab frac‐ ture and repair on racing performance in thoroughbred horses: 31 cases (1977–1984).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1988;193:107‐110.
  18. Stephens PR, Richardson DW, Spencer PA. Slab fractures of the third carpal bone in standardbreds and thoroughbreds.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1988;193:353‐358.
  19. Lacourt M, Gao C, Li A. Relationship between cartilage and subchondral bone lesions in repetitive impact trauma‐induced equine osteoarthritis.. Osteoarthr Cartil 2012;20(6):572‐583.
    doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2012.02.004google scholar: lookup
  20. Steel CM, Hopper BJ, Richardson JL, Alexander GR, Robertson ID. Clinical findings, diagnosis, prevalence and predisposing factors for lameness localised to the middle carpal joint in young standardbred racehorses.. Equine Vet J 2010;38(2):152‐157.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406776563332google scholar: lookup
  21. Williamson AJ, Sims NA, Thomas CDL, Lee PVS, Stevenson MA, Whitton RC. Biomechanical testing of the calcified metacarpal articular surface and its association with subchondral bone microstructure in thoroughbred racehorses.. Equine Vet J 2018;50(2):255‐260.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12748google scholar: lookup
  22. Firth EC, Delahunt J, Wichtel JW, Birch HL, Goodship AE. Galloping exercise induces regional changes in bone density within the third and radial carpal bones of thoroughbred horses.. Equine Vet J 1999;31(2):111‐115.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03802.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  23. Phillips TJ, Wright IM. Observations on the anatomy and pathology of the palmar intercarpal ligaments in the middle carpal joints of thoroughbred racehorses.. Equine Vet J 1994;26(6):486‐491.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04055.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  24. McIlwraith CW. Tearing of the medial palmar intercarpal ligament in the equine midcarpal joint.. Equine Vet J 1992;24(5):367‐371.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02857.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  25. Gray SN, Puchalski SM, Galuppo LD. Computed tomographic arthrography of the intercarpal ligaments of the equine carpus.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2013;54(3):245‐252.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.12033google scholar: lookup
  26. Kannegieter NJ, Colgan SA. The incidence and severity of intercarpal ligament damage in the equine carpus.. Aust Vet J 1993;70:89‐91.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1993.tb03283.xgoogle scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,911 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.