Results of treatment of 145 fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal condyles in 135 horses (1986-1994).
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to correlate condylar fracture characteristics and type of treatment with subsequent capacity for athletic ability, and to determine the characteristics of healing that affect prognosis after fracture fixation. Medical records, post operative radiographic studies and race records were examined for 135 horses sustaining 145 fractures. Sixty-five percent of horses overall started in a race post injury (SPI) in a mean time of 9.7 months with a mean of 13.7 races post injury. Having raced pre-injury did not confer an advantage to starting post injury, though nonstarters pre-injury tended to take longer to return. For horses starting pre- and post injury, 66% improved or maintained their race class level after injury, whereas 64.2% decreased their race earnings post injury. Eighty-five percent of the fractures received internal fixation, of which 70% were complete fractures. Eighty-seven percent of horses with incomplete-nondisplaced fractures treated conservatively raced post injury. The percent SPI for incomplete-nondisplaced, complete-nondisplaced and complete-displaced fractures treated with internal fixation were 74%, 58%, and 60%, respectively. Males (72%) raced post injury more frequently than fillies (53%), and may represent a truer probability of SPI. Spiral fractures tended to take longer until their first start (mean 13.3 months). Fifty-two percent of horses with articular fragments were able to race post injury. Horses were more likely to start if 2-4 month radiographic healing revealed no evidence of the fracture except the presence of lag screws. Based on this series of cases, the majority of horses, with proper treatment, were able to return to racing regardless of fracture characteristic. Prognosis appeared to be affected by the severity of the injury to the joint, the presence of articular comminution and the quality of surgical repair.
Publication Date: 1999-08-24 PubMed ID: 10454089DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03822.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research paper investigates the correlation between characteristics of fractures in horse’s limbs and their subsequent athletic abilities, while also exploring the impact of healing factors on the prognosis after fracture repair. It suggests that the majority of horses can return to racing post-treatment, despite the severity of the fracture. Nevertheless, the prognosis is influenced by the severity of the joint injury, presence of fragmented areas in the joint, and the quality of the surgical repair.
Objective of the Study
- The study sought to examine the correlation between the features of condylar fractures in horse’s third metacarpal/metatarsal bone and the type of treatment with the horses’ subsequent athletic ability.
- Another objective was to identify the healing characteristics that affect the prognosis following the fracture fixation.
Methodology and Findings
- Medical documents, post-operative radiographic studies, and racing records of 135 horses with 145 fractures were evaluated over a period of eight years.
- The results indicated that 65% of horses were able to start racing post-injury in an average of 9.7 months. Pre-injury racing status did not influence the likelihood of horse racing post-injury, although those not racing pre-injury took longer to return to the racetrack.
- Among the horses that resumed racing, majority were able to maintain or improve their race class level after the injury. However, a significant percentage showed a decrease in their race earnings post-injury.
Treatment and Prognosis
- About 85% of the fractures were treated through internal fixation, with 70% being complete fractures. Horses with incomplete, nondisplaced fractures had the highest racing rate post conservative treatment.
- Male horses were found to race post-injury more often than females. The study posits that this could provide a more accurate probability of starting post-injury (SPI).
- Fractures that were spiral in nature took a longer recovery time before the horses could start racing again.
- Prognosis following the treatment was determined by factors such as the degree of injury to the joint, the presence of fragmented areas in the joint, and the quality of the surgical repair.
Conclusion
- This study points out that despite fracture characteristics, most horses with proper treatment can return to racing. However, the prognosis is significantly influenced by the level of severity of the joint injury, the fragmentation within the joint and the success of the surgical intervention.
Cite This Article
APA
Zekas LJ, Bramlage LR, Embertson RM, Hance SR.
(1999).
Results of treatment of 145 fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal condyles in 135 horses (1986-1994).
Equine Vet J, 31(4), 309-313.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03822.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky 40580-2070, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Fracture Fixation, Internal / veterinary
- Fracture Healing
- Fractures, Bone / diagnostic imaging
- Fractures, Bone / therapy
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Male
- Metacarpus / diagnostic imaging
- Metacarpus / injuries
- Metatarsal Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Metatarsal Bones / injuries
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Radiography
- Records / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Sports
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Dias IR, Maia LM, Quaresma M, Cotovio M, Silva FC. Laterally applied single bone plate option for fixation of complete diaphyseal fracture of a third metatarsal bone in a circus work pony. Open Vet J 2021 Oct-Dec;11(4):645-650.
- Dubois MS, Morello S, Rayment K, Markel MD, Vanderby R Jr, Kalscheur VL, Hao Z, McCabe RP, Marquis P, Muir P. Computed tomographic imaging of subchondral fatigue cracks in the distal end of the third metacarpal bone in the thoroughbred racehorse can predict crack micromotion in an ex-vivo model. PLoS One 2014;9(7):e101230.
- Irandoust S, Whitton C, Henak C, Muir P. Tuning and validation of a virtual mechanical testing pipeline for condylar stress fracture risk assessment in Thoroughbred racehorses. R Soc Open Sci 2025 May;12(5):241935.
- Bergstrom TC, Spriet M, Carpenter RS, Jacques KL, Stover SM. Condylar fracture location is correlated to exercise history in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):76-86.
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