Standing Surgical Management of Splint Bone Fractures in 13 Horses: A Comparison to Management Under General Anaesthesia.

The research investigates the effectiveness and cost differences between standing surgical treatment versus treatment under general anesthesia for horses with splint bone fractures. Thorough examination shows that standing surgery can be a valid alternative, lowering costs and risk without impacting the treatment outcome or recovery time.

Research Methodology

• The study is retrospective and based on a single institution, looking at medical records of horses that underwent surgery for splint bone fractures between 2008 and 2020.
• The researchers collected data on the surgical technique used, time it took for the surgery, the cost of hospitalization, and any complications that arose during treatment.
• Additionally, they conducted telephone follow-ups with the owners to gather more information about the athletic outcome, customer satisfaction and appearance.

Results

• A total of forty-nine horses with fifty-seven splint bone fractures were included in the study. Thirteen were managed while standing and the remaining thirty-six were under general anaesthesia.
• The location of fractures varied with most being distal. Surgical time was not significantly different between the two groups.
• The average total cost for non-contaminated fractures was 522 CAN$ lower in the standing surgical group, indicating monetary benefits.
• Postoperative complications such as colic signs were reported in three horses that underwent general anaesthesia, while one standing surgery case needed a re-operation due to sequestration.
• Long-term follow-up results showed that there were no significant differences in the cosmetic look and athletic performance of the horses treated in the different groups.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that the standing technique for managing splint bone fractures can be a valuable alternative to general anesthesia, especially for horses selected based on behavior. This technique can help to reduce costs and avoid general anesthesia-associated risks like postoperative colic.
• Additionally, this change in technique does not affect the surgery time, cosmetic outcome, or athletic outcomes, making it a viable alternative to be considered when treating splint bone fractures in horses.