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Surgical management of a Salter-Harris type I proximal physeal fracture of the tibia in a foal: a case report.
Abstract: One of the traumatic fractures occurring in the hindlimb of the foals is physeal fractures of the tibia. The most common type of proximal tibial fracture in foals is reported to be Salter-Harris type II. Methods: This case report describes the history, clinical signs, radiographic findings, and surgical management of a proximal physeal fracture of the tibia due to the kick trauma in a 2-weeks-old Kurdish female foal, with signs of left pelvic limb lameness, valgus deviation with non-weight-bearing, non-mobility in stifle region and crepitation in the affected area. In this case, radiography was utilized to confirm the fracture and detect the exact location of the fracture fragments. The Salter-Harris type I accompanied by tibial tuberosity fracture was diagnosed. In this case, a size 4.5 mm seven-hole, T-plate, and cortical bone screws were employed to fix the physeal fracture, and a cortical bone screw was utilized to fix the tibial tuberosity in the normal position. Case follow-up during two months showed no significant complications, and the patient was fully recovered (no lameness anymore). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of Salter-Harris type I fracture in proximal tibia accompanied by tibial tuberosity fracture in a foal treated by a T-plate implant. A cortical screw in lag fashion for tibial tuberosity was utilized in this case for the first time, and the results were satisfying. T-Plate fixation can be recommended as an effective surgical treatment for proximal tibial fractures in foals.
© 2022. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2022-05-16 PubMed ID: 35578200PubMed Central: PMC9109413DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03285-6Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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Summary
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This research paper documents a unique case of a Salter-Harris type I fracture in the upper part of the tibia and a fracture in the tibial tuberosity, in a foal. The fractures were efficiently treated and stabilized using a special T-plate implant, leading to full recovery in the affected limb.
Clinical Overview
- In this paper, the authors discussed a case involving a 2-week old Kurdish female foal suffering from a proximal physeal fracture of the tibia, resulting from a kick trauma.
- The foal exhibited signs of lameness in the left pelvic limb, an outward deviation of the limb (valgus) with non-weight bearing, non-mobility in the stifle region (a joint corresponding to the human knee), and a grating sensation (crepitus) in the affected area.
Diagnostic and Treatment Procedures
- Radiographic imaging was employed to confirm the fracture and identify the precise location of the broken bone fragments.
- A diagnosis of a Salter-Harris type I fracture in the upper part of the tibia (the larger bone in the lower leg), along with a fracture in the bony projection on the tibia (the tibial tuberosity) was made.
- In order fix the fractures, a T-plate (a metal plate used to bridge the fracture) and cortical bone screws were used to stabilize the fractured bone growth plate (physeal fracture), while another cortical screw was used to hold the tibial tuberosity in its proper position.
Post-Surgery Results and Observations
- Follow-up check-ups across a span of two months showed no significant complications arising from the surgery.
- The foal had made a complete recovery, showing no further signs of lameness.
Conclusion and Recommendations
- The authors note that this might be the first ever documented case of a successful surgical treatment of a Salter-Harris type I proximal tibial fracture combined with a tibial tuberosity fracture in a foal.
- The successful recovery in this case led the authors to suggest that T-plate implants could be recommended as an effective surgical treatment for similar upper tibial fractures in foals in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Mazaheri-Khameneh R, Azizi S, Davoodi F, Gooran MM.
(2022).
Surgical management of a Salter-Harris type I proximal physeal fracture of the tibia in a foal: a case report.
BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 183.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03285-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. r.mazaheri@urmia.ac.ir.
- Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
- Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
- Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone Plates / veterinary
- Bone Screws / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Radiography
- Tibia / diagnostic imaging
- Tibia / surgery
- Tibial Fractures / diagnostic imaging
- Tibial Fractures / surgery
- Tibial Fractures / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
References
This article includes 12 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Lemaitre V, Cote E, Bellon C, Cassard H, Schelcher F, Maillard R, Robcis R. Surgical Management of a Salter-Harris Type I Distal Physeal Fracture of the Tibia in a Calf: A Case Report. Vet Sci 2023 Jul 14;10(7).
- Li X, Yu H, Li F, He Y, Xu L, Xiao J. Evaluation of effects of small-incision approach treatment on proximal tibia fracture by deep learning algorithm-based magnetic resonance imaging. Open Life Sci 2023;18(1):20220624.
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