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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Radiographic and arthroscopic features of third carpal bone ...
Equine veterinary journal2019; 52(2); 213-218; doi: 10.1111/evj.13155

Radiographic and arthroscopic features of third carpal bone slab fractures and their impact on racing performance following arthroscopic repair in a population of racing Thoroughbreds in the UK.

Abstract: Slab fractures of the third carpal bone (C3) are a common injury of Thoroughbred racehorses. Results of arthroscopically guided repair have not been reported since the initial description of the technique in 1986. Additionally, fracture details and racing outcomes in a population of Thoroughbreds racing under UK jurisdiction have not previously been described. Objective: To report the frequency distribution of C3 slab fractures and to determine the impact on racing performance following arthroscopically guided repair in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of Thoroughbred racehorses undergoing arthroscopically guided repair of C3 slab fractures at Newmarket Equine Hospital between 2006 and 2015 were retrieved. Radiographs and arthroscopic studies were reviewed. The effect of demography and fracture morphology on racing outcome was evaluated. Results: C3 slab fractures occurred most commonly through the radial facet in a frontal plane (45/71 63.4%). Comminution was identified during arthroscopy in 42/71 (59.2%) fractures and occurred most frequently at the palmar margin of the fracture. Forty-one out of 65 horses (63.1%) raced at least once post-operatively. Females were less likely to return to racing compared to males (P<0.001). Horses that had raced before injury were more likely (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.4-13.5, P = 0.01) to race after injury compared to horses that were unraced at the time of injury. After injury horses had a small but significant reduction in racing performance. Conclusions: The series is a preselected population of Thoroughbred racehorses which referring veterinary surgeons considered potential candidates for surgical repair. Conclusions: Fracture configurations can be identified radiographically but is not a reliable predictor of comminution or other intra-articular lesions. Arthroscopy not only directs repair but also identifies and facilitates management of concurrent lesions. The results reported should assist in formulating appropriate prognoses for Thoroughbred horses racing in the UK.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-08-19 PubMed ID: 31356679DOI: 10.1111/evj.13155Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research paper investigates the impact of arthroscopically guided repair of third carpal bone (C3) slab fractures on the future racing performance of thoroughbred racehorses. The researchers conducted a retrospective case study involving thoroughbred racehorses that had undergone such surgeries between 2006 and 2015, assessing the demographics and fracture profiles of these subjects and their subsequent performance in races.

Methodology

  • The researchers undertook a retrospective case series, examining the medical and racing records of thoroughbred racehorses that had undergone arthroscopic repair of C3 slab fractures at the Newmarket Equine Hospital over a span of a decade, from 2006 to 2015.
  • They thoroughly reviewed radiographic and arthroscopic studies and evaluated the impact of horse demographics and fracture morphology on their racing outcomes subsequent to the repair.

Findings

  • The most common form of C3 slab fractures occurred through the radial facet in a frontal plane, making up 63.4% of the cases.
  • Comminution, or the breaking of the bone into several smaller pieces, was found in 59.2% of the cases, frequently at the palmar margin of the fracture.
  • Of the studied horses, 63.1% participated in at least one race following the procedure.
  • Female horses were less likely than males to compete in races following the operation.
  • Horses that had already been racing before the injury had a significantly higher chance of returning to racing compared to those that were unraced at the time of the injury.
  • A small but notable decrease in racing performance was observed among the horses after the injury and subsequent surgery.

Conclusions

  • The study subjects were a preselected population of thoroughbred racehorses that referring veterinary surgeons believed were potential candidates for surgical repair.
  • The researchers concluded that while fracture configurations can be identified through radiography, they do not reliably predict comminution or other intra-articular lesions.
  • The findings suggest that arthroscopy not only aids in directing repair procedures but also helps identify and manage concurrent lesions, boosting rehabilitation and eventual recovery of the horse.
  • The outcomes of this study should help in providing appropriate prognoses for thoroughbred horses racing in the UK.

Cite This Article

APA
Baldwin CM, Smith MRW, Allen S, Wright IM. (2019). Radiographic and arthroscopic features of third carpal bone slab fractures and their impact on racing performance following arthroscopic repair in a population of racing Thoroughbreds in the UK. Equine Vet J, 52(2), 213-218. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13155

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 2
Pages: 213-218

Researcher Affiliations

Baldwin, C M
  • Newmarket Equine Hospital, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Smith, M R W
  • Newmarket Equine Hospital, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Allen, S
  • Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK.
Wright, I M
  • Newmarket Equine Hospital, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Carpal Bones
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sports
  • United Kingdom

References

This article includes 21 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Steel C, Ahern B, Zedler S, Vallance S, Galuppo L, Richardson J, Whitton C, Young A. Comparison of Radiography and Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Third Carpal Bone Fractures in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 25;13(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13091459pubmed: 37174496google scholar: lookup
  2. Miyakoshi D, Watanabe A, Ikeda H, Mizuguchi Y. Arthroscopic guided repair of a slab fracture of the fourth carpal bone in an 8-month-old thoroughbred horse. J Equine Sci 2021 Dec;32(4):143-146.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.32.143pubmed: 35023992google scholar: lookup
  3. Watkins A, Fasanello D, Stefanovski D, Schurer S, Caracappa K, D'Agostino A, Costello E, Freer H, Rollins A, Read C, Su J, Colville M, Paszek M, Wagner B, Reesink H. Investigation of synovial fluid lubricants and inflammatory cytokines in the horse: a comparison of recombinant equine interleukin 1 beta-induced synovitis and joint lavage models. BMC Vet Res 2021 May 12;17(1):189.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02873-2pubmed: 33980227google scholar: lookup
  4. Pereira LO, DE Souza AF, Spagnolo JD, Yamada ALM, Salgado DMRA, DE Zoppa ALDV. Radiographic texture of the trabecular bone of the proximal phalanx in horses with metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis. J Equine Sci 2024 Jul;35(2):21-28.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.35.21pubmed: 38962515google scholar: lookup
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