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The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice2008; 24(1); 21-36; doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2007.11.009

The California Postmortem Program: leading the way.

Abstract: The California Postmortem Program studies disease surveillance, discovers new causes of death, and develops new diagnostic methods for disease detection. It also informs directions for research focused on elucidating the etiopathogenesis of, and risk factors for, catastrophic fractures and other causes of death. Because most fatal injuries seem to be the acute culmination of a more chronic process, intervention and prevention of injuries is possible with enhanced knowledge of the etiopathogenesis of injuries and risk factors for injuries. These advances also would facilitate development of management strategies for injury prevention.
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Publication Date: 2008-03-04 PubMed ID: 18314034DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2007.11.009Google 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.

The research paper talks about the California Postmortem Program, which undertakes extensive disease surveillance, introduces new diagnostic methods, and identifies new ways people can die. This understanding can also help address critical fractures and other causes of deadly incidents. With more in-depth knowledge about how injuries occur and what the risk factors are, prevention strategies can be developed.

Objective of the Research

  • The main objective of the California Postmortem Program, according to this paper, is to conduct disease surveillance, develop new diagnostic methods for disease detection, and discover new causes of death.

Research Focus

  • The program also focuses on research that sheds light on the etiopathogenesis (root causes and development) of catastrophic fractures and other causes of death.
  • Most fatal injuries, the paper notes, appear to be the end result of a longer, chronic process. This implies that understanding the root causes and development of these injuries can open up possibilities for intervention and prevention.

Role in Injury Prevention

  • One of the significant potential contributions of this program is towards the prevention of injuries. By enhancing the knowledge about the etiopathogenesis of injuries and identifying risk factors, we better equip ourselves to anticipate and avoid such damaging incidents.
  • These insights would further enable the development of effective management strategies aimed specifically at injury prevention.

Cite This Article

APA
Stover SM, Murray A. (2008). The California Postmortem Program: leading the way. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 24(1), 21-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2007.11.009

Publication

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
ISSN: 1558-4224
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 1
Pages: 21-36

Researcher Affiliations

Stover, Susan M
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. smstover@ucdavis.edu
Murray, Amanda

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • California
    • Cause of Death
    • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
    • Fractures, Bone / mortality
    • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
    • Horse Diseases / mortality
    • Horses / injuries
    • Population Surveillance
    • Risk Factors
    • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
    • Wounds and Injuries / mortality
    • Wounds and Injuries / veterinary

    Citations

    This article has been cited 12 times.
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    3. Bellone RR, Ocampo NR, Hughes SS, Le V, Arthur R, Finno CJ, Penedo MCT. Warmblood fragile foal syndrome type 1 mutation (PLOD1 c.2032G>A) is not associated with catastrophic breakdown and has a low allele frequency in the Thoroughbred breed. Equine Vet J 2020 May;52(3):411-414.
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    5. Liley H, Zhang J, Firth EC, Fernandez JW, Besier TF. Statistical modeling of the equine third metacarpal bone incorporating morphology and bone mineral density. PLoS One 2018;13(6):e0194406.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194406pubmed: 29874224google scholar: lookup
    6. Hopper N, Singer E, Henson F. Increased sclerostin associated with stress fracture of the third metacarpal bone in the Thoroughbred racehorse. Bone Joint Res 2018 Jan;7(1):94-102.
      doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.71.BJR-2016-0202.R4pubmed: 29363519google scholar: lookup
    7. Noble P, Singer ER, Jeffery NS. Does subchondral bone of the equine proximal phalanx adapt to race training?. J Anat 2016 Jul;229(1):104-13.
      doi: 10.1111/joa.12478pubmed: 27075139google scholar: lookup
    8. Hitchens PL, Hill AE, Stover SM. Jockey Falls, Injuries, and Fatalities Associated With Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Racing in California, 2007-2011. Orthop J Sports Med 2013 Jan-Jun;1(1):2325967113492625.
      doi: 10.1177/2325967113492625pubmed: 26535231google scholar: lookup
    9. Aleman M, Dimock AN, Wisner ER, Prutton JW, Madigan JE. Atlanto-axial approach for cervical myelography in a Thoroughbred horse with complete fusion of the atlanto-occipital bones. Can Vet J 2014 Nov;55(11):1069-73.
      pubmed: 25392550
    10. Dubois MS, Morello S, Rayment K, Markel MD, Vanderby R Jr, Kalscheur VL, Hao Z, McCabe RP, Marquis P, Muir P. Computed tomographic imaging of subchondral fatigue cracks in the distal end of the third metacarpal bone in the thoroughbred racehorse can predict crack micromotion in an ex-vivo model. PLoS One 2014;9(7):e101230.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101230pubmed: 25077477google scholar: lookup
    11. Zhang Z, Yang Y, Ma Y, Mai Z, Fu H, Wang X, Cao X, Li T, Li J, Guo Q. Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcome Analysis of a Horse with Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fracture Complicated by Flexor Tendinitis. Vet Sci 2026 Jan 2;13(1).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci13010040pubmed: 41600695google scholar: lookup
    12. Zhang Z, Li J, Mai Z, Yang Y, Fu H, Cao X, Li T, Guo Q, Ma Y. Clinical study on the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on healing of proximal sesamoid bone fractures in Yili horses. Sci Rep 2025 Aug 28;15(1):31697.
      doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-17424-0pubmed: 40877380google scholar: lookup
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