Plate fixation of small metacarpal and metatarsal bone fractures in 27 horses.
Abstract: To present fracture cases selected for plate fixation (PF), describe surgical techniques and assess their association with postoperative complications and return-to-work outcomes in horses undergoing PF for small metacarpal/metatarsal (SMCT) fractures. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study. Methods: A total of 27 horses. Methods: Horses treated with PF of a SMCT fracture between 2008 and 2023 across three hospitals were included. Medical records and imaging were reviewed. Long-term outcomes were established by readmission to the hospital, telephone interviews, and/or race records. Univariable and multivariable regression models evaluated variables associated with return to intended use. Results: PF of fractures was performed in 27 horses. Fractures were all in the proximal SMCT, with 20/27 (74.1%) articular, 22/27 (96.3%) comminuted, and 24/27 (81.5%) displaced. Of horses with follow-up, 19/25 (76%) returned to prior work level. Postoperative complications occurred in 9/27 (33.33%) horses. No individual explanatory variable was significantly associated with return to use in the univariable analysis. Racehorse earnings per start were lower postoperatively compared to preoperatively (p = .02). Conclusions: Most horses treated for SMCT fractures with PF returned to prior work level, although postoperative complications were common. None of the explanatory variables were significantly associated with return to use. Conclusions: PF for proximal SMCT fractures is effective, yielding high return-to-work rates and better outcomes than previously reported case series.
© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2025-10-02 PubMed ID: 41036668PubMed Central: PMC12618157DOI: 10.1111/vsu.70032Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
Cite This Article
APA
Melly V, Ortved KF, Stewart HL, Stefanovski D, Richardson DW, Bubeck KA, Hogan PM, García-López JM.
(2025).
Plate fixation of small metacarpal and metatarsal bone fractures in 27 horses.
Vet Surg, 54(8), 1537-1548.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.70032 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA.
- Hogan Equine at FairWinds Farm, Cream Ridge, New Jersey, USA.
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / surgery
- Retrospective Studies
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Fractures, Bone / surgery
- Bone Plates / veterinary
- Female
- Male
- Metatarsal Bones / injuries
- Metatarsal Bones / surgery
- Metacarpal Bones / injuries
- Metacarpal Bones / surgery
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / veterinary
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this report.
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