Repair of a proximal metatarsal Salter type-II fracture in a foal.

This is a study about repairing a rare type of fracture in the foot bone of a six-day-old foal, using lag screw fixation. The foal recovered with no visible lameness and a minor deformity.

Research Objectives

• The study aims to describe an unusual case of a young foal with a Salter type-II fracture of the proximal third metatarsal physis. This is a condition that doesn’t typically show up on radiography in newborn horses.
• It also seeks to highlight other sites of skeletal immaturity that were found during the investigation and should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of unconventional physeal fractures.

Methodology

• The subject of the study was a six-day-old Arabian foal that was referred due to severe unilateral hind limb lameness and valgus deformity. The foal was intended to be used as a show horse.
• A radiographic examination revealed a Salter type-II fracture in the proximal portion of the third metacarpal bone. This fracture was repaired using cancellous lag screws.
• The injured limb was provided additional support using a modified Robert Jones bandage and a fiberglass tube cast.

Results

• Eight weeks following the surgery, the young horse could trot soundly and displayed minimal valgus deformity. Radiography at this point showed a healed fracture.
• The implants were then removed. After six months of the fracture repair, the outcome was graded as successful based on the desirable cosmetic outcome and no detectable lameness during a trot.

Conclusions

• This study illustrates the successful identification and repair of a fracture in the proximal third metatarsal physis, a condition normally not visible in radiographs of newborn horses.
• Alongside, it also brought attention to other skeletal immaturity sites that were identified and which should be considered while assessing and treating uncommon physeal fractures.