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Racing prognosis of horses following surgically repaired olecranon fractures.
Abstract: Olecranon fracture is a common orthopedic problem in juvenile horses. Prognosis for complete fracture healing when various methods of internal fixation are used is good; however, the impact of olecranon fracture stabilization on the likelihood that foals will start on a racecourse is unknown. Medical records of foals undergoing internal fixation for an olecranon fracture were reviewed. The dam's foaling records were obtained and lifetime racing records were then retrieved for both the affected foals and 1 of their siblings. Twenty-two of 24 repaired fractures healed completely, subsequently, 16 of the foals started in at least 1 race. Statistical calculations suggest that when compared with their siblings, the occurrence of olecranon factures requiring internal fixation in juvenile racehorses will not significantly reduce the likelihood that they will race; however, the siblings had significantly more lifetime race starts and higher career earnings. La fracture de l’olécrane est un problème orthopédique fréquent chez les jeunes chevaux. Le pronostic pour la guérison complète d’une fracture est bon lorsque diverses méthodes internes de fixation sont utilisées, cependant l’impact de la stabilisation de la fracture de l’olécrâne sur la possibilité de départ des poulains à l’hippodrome est inconnu. Les dossiers médicaux des poulains ayant subi une fixation interne d’une fracture de l’olécrane ont été passés en revue. Les dossiers de mise bas des poulinières ont été obtenus et les records à vie ont été extraits tant pour les poulains affectés que pour l’un de leurs frères ou sœurs. Vingt-deux des 24 fractures réparées ont complètement guéri et subséquemment, 16 des poulains ont participé à au moins une course. D’un point de vue statistique, il semble que lorsque comparés aux membres de leur fratrie, la survenue d’une fracture de l’olécrâne nécessitant une fixation interne chez les jeunes chevaux de course ne réduise pas sensiblement leur possibilité de course; cependant le nombre de départs à vie et les gains en carrière étaient significativement plus élevés chez les frères et sœurs. (Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)
Publication Date: 2006-04-12 PubMed ID: 16604980PubMed Central: PMC1371052 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.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article investigates the impact of surgically repaired olecranon fractures on horses’ racing prognosis. The study reveals that juvenile horses who undergo internal fixation for olecranon fractures have a high likelihood of successfully racing again; however, they generally start fewer races and earn less overall than their healthy siblings.
Research Method
- The research team observed foals that had undergone internal fixation surgery for repair of olecranon fractures.
- Fractures of the olecranon are common orthopedic issues among young horses, and while internal fixation methods typically result in good outcomes in terms of fracture healing, the ultimate influence of such surgical intervention on a horse’s ability to participate in racing events remained unclear.
- To gather data, the researchers reviewed medical records of foals who had received this type of surgery.
- To establish a comprehensive perspective for comparison, the team also acquired the foaling records of these horses’ dams and assembled lifetime racing records for both, the treated foals and one of their siblings.
Findings
- The research showed that 22 out of 24 fractures healed completely after surgery, with 16 out of 24 foals subsequently participating in at least one race.
- Based on these findings, statistically speaking, an olecranon fracture requiring internal fixation did not significantly deprive juvenile racehorses of their chances to race.
- Nevertheless, the siblings of those horses who did not face this medical predicament had a significantly higher frequency of lifetime race starts and accumulated higher career earnings.
Conclusion
- The findings of this paper might be significant for the horse racing industry.
- While foals with surgically repaired olecranon fractures are likely to return to the racetrack, they may not participate in as many races or earn as much as their siblings who did not experience the same medical intervention.
- This information delivers crucial insight to those in the industry, helping shape expectations about the racing careers of horses who’ve undergone surgical repair of olecranon fractures.
Cite This Article
APA
Janicek JC, Rodgerson DH, Hunt RJ, Spirito MA, Thorpe PE, Tessman RK.
(2006).
Racing prognosis of horses following surgically repaired olecranon fractures.
Can Vet J, 47(3), 241-245.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Missouri Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA janicekj@missouri.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Confidence Intervals
- Female
- Forelimb
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / veterinary
- Fracture Healing
- Horses / surgery
- Injury Severity Score
- Male
- Odds Ratio
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Prognosis
- Sports / economics
- Sports / statistics & numerical data
- Treatment Outcome
- Ulna Fractures / economics
- Ulna Fractures / surgery
- Ulna Fractures / veterinary
References
This article includes 12 references
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