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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Diagn Invest / Sudden death caused by spinal cord injury associated with ve...
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2021; 33(4); 788-791; doi: 10.1177/10406387211018289

Sudden death caused by spinal cord injury associated with vertebral fractures and fetlock failure in a Thoroughbred racehorse.

Abstract: The most prevalent causes of death in racehorses are musculoskeletal injuries, causing ~83% of deaths within the racing industry in California and elsewhere. The vast majority of these injuries have preexisting lesions that predispose to fatal injury. A 4-y-old Thoroughbred colt suffered an acute suspensory apparatus failure, including biaxial proximal sesamoid bone fractures of the right front fetlock, causing loss of support of the fetlock joint and consequent fall with fractures of the cervical and sacral spine. Cervical fracture caused spinal cord damage that resulted in sudden death. A preexisting lesion in the medial proximal sesamoid bone likely predisposed to complete fracture of this bone and fetlock breakdown. Interestingly, a comparable osteopenic lesion was present in the intact medial proximal sesamoid bone of the left forelimb, which is consistent with bilateral repetitive overuse injury in racehorses. The morphologic features of the cervical and sacral spine fractures were compatible with acute injury; no evidence of preexisting lesions was seen. Most likely, these acute vertebral fractures occurred as a result of the horse falling. This case emphasizes the importance of performing a detailed autopsy in horses that suffer an appendicular musculoskeletal injury, particularly in fatal cases when the horse dies following a leg injury.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-27 PubMed ID: 34041971PubMed Central: PMC8229845DOI: 10.1177/10406387211018289Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research addresses the prevalent issue of fatal musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses, utilizing the case of a four-year-old Thoroughbred colt that died due to such injuries. The horse suffered fractures due to an injury to his suspensory apparatus, which resulted in vertebral fractures and consequential spinal cord damage.

Fetlock Failure and Spinal Cord Injury

  • The research centres around a four-year-old Thoroughbred colt that died due to musculoskeletal injuries. Specifically, it suffered failure of the suspensory apparatus, causing the horse to lose support at its fetlock joint.
  • As a result, the horse was forced to fall, leading to fractures in the sacral and cervical sections of its spine. These fractures led to spinal cord damage, which ultimately caused the horse’s death.

Preexisting Lesions and Injury Predisposition

  • It was noted that a preexisting lesion in the medial proximal sesamoid bone may have predisposed the horse to the complete fracture of this bone and subsequent fetlock breakdown.
  • A similar osteopenic lesion was observed in the intact medial proximal sesamoid bone of the horse’s left forelimb. This observation aligns with the common occurrence of bilateral repetitive overuse injuries in racehorses, highlighting a potential risk factor for catastrophic injury in these animals.

Acute Injury and Vertebral Fractures

  • The characteristics of the cervical and sacral spine fractures were consistent with acute injury as opposed to chronic conditions or degeneration. There was no evidence of preexisting lesions in these areas, suggesting these fractures were likely the result of the fall itself.

Importance of Detailed Autopsy

  • The study emphasizes the importance of performing a detailed autopsy in cases of fatal musculoskeletal injuries in horses. This is particularly crucial when a horse suffers a severe injury or dies unexpectedly after a leg injury.
  • Understanding the underlying preexisting lesions and their role in acute injuries may provide insights into prevention strategies for future incidents, potentially saving the lives of racehorses in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Samol MA, Uzal FA, Blanchard PC, Arthur RM, Stover SM. (2021). Sudden death caused by spinal cord injury associated with vertebral fractures and fetlock failure in a Thoroughbred racehorse. J Vet Diagn Invest, 33(4), 788-791. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387211018289

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 4
Pages: 788-791

Researcher Affiliations

Samol, Monika A
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino.
Uzal, Francisco A
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino.
Blanchard, Patricia C
  • Tulare, J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory.
Arthur, Rick M
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Stover, Susan M
  • Tulare, J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Death, Sudden / etiology
  • Death, Sudden / veterinary
  • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
  • Horses / injuries
  • Male
  • Sesamoid Bones / injuries
  • Sesamoid Bones / pathology
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / complications
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / veterinary
  • Spinal Fractures / complications
  • Spinal Fractures / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Schild CO, Nyaoke A, Asin J, Henderson EE, Blea JA, Stover SM, Uzal FA. A retrospective study of radial fractures in racehorses in California, 2006-2022. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Jul 23;:10406387251336267.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387251336267pubmed: 40702641google scholar: lookup
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