Retrospective study of 38 cases of femur fractures in horses less than one year of age.
Abstract: Medical records of 38 horses less than 1 year of age and diagnosed as having a fracture of the femoral diaphysis, metaphysis or distal physis were evaluated. Twenty-six foals had fractures of the femoral diaphysis or metaphysis with the most common fracture configuration being comminuted. Twelve foals had distal physeal fractures with the most common fracture configuration being a Salter-Harris type II. Twenty-one foals with fractures of the capital femoral physis, neck or greater trochanter during the same time period were excluded from this study. Surgical repair was attempted in 16 diaphyseal and 2 distal physeal fractures. Most of the diaphyseal fractures were repaired by placing plates on the lateral and cranial surfaces of the bone. Dynamic condylar screw plates or angle blade plates were used for increased bone purchase in 4 foals with short distal fragments. Five foals with distal physeal fractures were treated; 2 were surgically treated by placing an angle blade plate on the lateral cortex, and 3 foals with minimally displaced distal physeal fractures were managed with stall confinement. Eight of the 16 surgically repaired diaphyseal fractures healed. Fracture location and configuration was not a determinant of outcome, but the mean age of foals with successfully repaired diaphyseal fractures was 2 months compared with 4 months for the unsuccessful cases, indicating that the age and size of the foal was important. Long-term follow up revealed that 6 of the 8 successfully repaired diaphyseal fractures had no residual effects of the fracture observed during performance of the horse for its intended use. Only 1 of the 2 surgically repaired distal physeal fractures healed, but this horse was eventually killed because of unthriftiness related to a malabsorption syndrome. Some form of complication developed in 13 of the 18 surgically repaired fractures. Infection was the primary cause of failure. The greatest determinant associated with infection was the inability to control post-surgical seroma formation.
Publication Date: 1992-09-01 PubMed ID: 1396509DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02855.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research paper presents a retrospective study on 38 cases of femur fractures in young horses, under one year of age, investigating the outcomes of different types of fractures and treatments.
Study Sample and Fracture Analysis
- The study examined medical records of 38 horses under one year of age, diagnosed with a fracture in the femur.
- The fractures were categorized into two main types: femoral diaphyseal or metaphyseal fractures (found in 26 foals) and distal physeal fractures (found in 12 foals).
- Foals with fractures to the capital femoral physis, neck, or greater trochanter were specifically excluded from this study.
Surgical Repair and Outcomes
- Surgical repair was attempted on 16 diaphyseal and 2 distal physeal fractures.
- In most of the diaphyseal cases, the fractures were repaired by placing plates on the lateral and cranial surfaces of the bone.
- Dynamic condylar screw plates or angle blade plates were used in 4 foals with short distal fragments.
- Among the distal physeal fractures, 2 were surgically treated by placing an angle blade plate, and 3 were managed with stall confinement.
- About half of the surgically repaired diaphyseal fractures healed (8 out of 16). Contrarily, only 1 out of 2 surgically repaired distal physeal fractures healed.
Factors Influencing Surgical Success
- The study highlighted that the location and configuration of the fracture were not definitive factors in determining the success of the surgical repair.
- However, the age of the foal was important, with successfully repaired diaphyseal fractures being typically 2 months old (as compared to 4 months old for unsuccessful cases).
- Out of the 8 successful diaphyseal repairs, 6 horses had no residual effects restricting their performance for intended use.
Post-Surgical Complications
- Post-operative complications developed in 13 out of the 18 surgically repaired fractures, primarily due to infection.
- The primary risk factor for infection was identified as the inability to control post-surgical seroma (an accumulation of serum in the body) formation.
Cite This Article
APA
Hance SR, Bramlage LR, Schneider RK, Embertson RM.
(1992).
Retrospective study of 38 cases of femur fractures in horses less than one year of age.
Equine Vet J, 24(5), 357-363.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02855.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Columbus 43210.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Bone Plates / veterinary
- Female
- Femoral Fractures / surgery
- Femoral Fractures / veterinary
- Follow-Up Studies
- Fracture Fixation / veterinary
- Fracture Healing
- Horses / injuries
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Ahmad RA, Aithal HP, Madhu DN, Amarpal, Kinjavdekar P, Pawde AM. Use of locking plate in combination with dynamic compression plate for repair of tibial fracture in a young horse. Iran J Vet Res 2017 Spring;18(2):138-141.
- Lang JJ, Li X, Micheler CM, Wilhelm NJ, Seidl F, Schwaiger BJ, Barnewitz D, von Eisenhart-Rothe R, Grosse CU, Burgkart R. Numerical evaluation of internal femur osteosynthesis based on a biomechanical model of the loading in the proximal equine hindlimb. BMC Vet Res 2024 May 10;20(1):188.
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