Surgical and nonsurgical management of sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone in racehorses: 32 cases (1991-2001).
Abstract: To compare results (ie, return to racing and earnings per race start) of surgical versus nonsurgical management of sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone in racehorses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 32 racehorses (19 Thoroughbreds, 11 Standardbreds, and 2 Arabians). Methods: Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to obtain information regarding signalment and treatment. Follow-up information was obtained from race records. Robust regression analysis was performed to evaluate earnings per start in horses that raced at least once before and after injury. Results: 22 (69%) horses raced at least once after treatment of the fracture. All 7 horses treated by means of interfragmentary compression raced after treatment, and horses that underwent interfragmentary compression had significantly higher earnings per start after the injury than did horses treated without surgery. Eight of 9 horses treated by means of arthroscopic debridement of the damaged cartilage and bone raced after treatment, but only 7 of 16 horses treated without surgery (ie, stall rest) were able to return to racing after treatment. Conclusions: Results suggest that racehorses with sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone have a favorable prognosis for return to racing after treatment. Horses treated surgically were more likely to race after treatment than were horses treated without surgery.
Publication Date: 2005-03-25 PubMed ID: 15786998DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.226.945Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research compares the effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical treatments for sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone in racehorses, revealing that surgically treated horses have higher chances of returning to racing and earning more after the injury.
Methodology
- The study is a retrospective one that reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 32 racehorses (comprising 19 Thoroughbreds, 11 Standardbreds, and 2 Arabians) that had previously suffered sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone.
- Information regarding these horses’ signalment (a concise description of the horse including species, breed, sex, and age) and treatment was extracted from their records.
- The researchers then followed up with the race records of these horses to track their performance after treatment.
- A robust regression analysis was utilized in evaluating the earnings per start in horses that had raced at least once before and after the injury.
Results
- The study found that 22 of the horses or 69% of the sample size went back to racing at least once following the treatment of their fractures.
- Every horse (7 in total) that received an interfragmentary compression treatment, a surgical intervention that involves compressing the fractured fragments to promote bone healing, returned to racing after the treatment.
- These horses also had significantly increased post-injury earnings per start.
- Out of the 9 horses treated with arthroscopic debridement, a different type of surgical intervention that involves removing or cleaning up the damaged cartilage and bone, 8 raced again after treatment.
- In stark contrast, only 7 of the 16 horses that received no surgery but were made to rest in the stall returned to racing after treatment.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that racehorses suffering from sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone have promising prospects of returning to racing after receiving treatment.
- Moreover, horses that are treated surgically seem to have better odds of racing post-injury compared to those treated nonsurgically.
Cite This Article
APA
Kraus BM, Ross MW, Boston RC.
(2005).
Surgical and nonsurgical management of sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone in racehorses: 32 cases (1991-2001).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 226(6), 945-950.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.226.945 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carpus, Animal / injuries
- Carpus, Animal / surgery
- Female
- Fractures, Bone / economics
- Fractures, Bone / surgery
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / economics
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / economics
- Prognosis
- Regression Analysis
- Retrospective Studies
- Sports / economics
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Steel C, Ahern B, Zedler S, Vallance S, Galuppo L, Richardson J, Whitton C, Young A. Comparison of Radiography and Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Third Carpal Bone Fractures in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 25;13(9).
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