Short- and long-term survival, complications, return to racing, and racing performance of 150 racehorses with medial condylar fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone treated by internal fixation (2000-2020).
Abstract: To report the rate of survival, rate of return to racing, and quality of racing performance following surgical fixation of medial condylar fractures. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 150 Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses surgically treated for medial condylar fracture (100 lag screw fixation, 50 plate fixation). Methods: Medical records, radiographs, and racing databases (2000-2020) were reviewed to collect signalment, fracture characteristics, fixation methods, survival rate, and complication rate. Change in racing performance was assessed using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results: The short-term survival, long-term survival, and complication rates were 98.7% (148/150), 93.3% (140/150), 12.0% (18/150), respectively. Four horses died of fatal complications, four died from unknown causes, and two were lost to follow up. The prognosis for returning to racing was 71.3% (107/150) (80/100, 80.0% for lag screw fixation; 27/39, 69.2% for plate fixation with plate removal). Post-injury total number of races increased (lag screw fixation) (p < .001) or did not change (plate fixation) (p = .320); post-injury total earnings, average earnings/race, and average speed figure did not change for either fixation type. Additionally, 78.0% of horses increased or maintained their highest race class. Horses with spiral fractures were less likely to return to racing than those with sagittal fractures. Conclusions: Survival rate was excellent and the rate of returning to racing was favorable, with no decline in performance following injury. Conclusions: Owners can expect horses to return to racing in most cases and perform as successfully as they did prior to fracture.
© 2025 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2025-07-04 PubMed ID: 40613632DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14308Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study presents an analysis of survival rates, return to racing, and racing performance of racehorses having medial condylar fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone, treated via surgical fixation. The data indicates a high survival rate, good chance of return to racing, and no decline in pre-injury performance levels.
Methodology
- The research is retrospective in nature and analyzed a total of 150 Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses that underwent surgery for medial condylar fracture over a period of 20 years, from 2000 to 2020.
- Out of 150 horses, 100 were treated using lag screw fixation and 50 through plate fixation.
- Data such as signalment, fracture characteristics, fixation methods, survival rate, and complication rate were collected through examination of medical records, radiographs, and racing databases.
- The change in racing performance was evaluated using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.
Results
- The short-term and long-term survival rates were reportedly high at 98.7% (148 out of 150 horses) and 93.3% (140 out of 150 horses), respectively.
- Complications occurred in just 12.0% (18 out of 150 horses).
- Out of the 150 horses studied, four died of fatal complications, another four died from causes not identified within the study, and two were lost to follow up.
- The prognosis for returning to the races was favourably high at 71.3% (107 out of 150 horses).
- Post-injury racing performance, in terms of number of races, total earnings, average earnings per race, and average speed, was maintained or increased for lag screw fixations, and did not change for plate fixations.
- Notably, 78.0% of horses were able to maintain or improve their highest race class.
- Horses with spiral fractures were found to be less likely to return to racing compared to those with sagittal fractures.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that horses with surgically fixed medial condylar fractures have an excellent survival rate and a high probability of returning to racing.
- Most importantly, there was no discernible decline in the racing performance of the horses following injury.
- The findings provide an indicative guidance that owners can expect their horses to return to racing in most cases and perform as successfully as before the fracture.
Cite This Article
APA
Ruspi BD, Bramlage LR, Ruggles AJ, Slone SA.
(2025).
Short- and long-term survival, complications, return to racing, and racing performance of 150 racehorses with medial condylar fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone treated by internal fixation (2000-2020).
Vet Surg, 54(6), 1176-1184.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14308 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
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