The Risk of a Shod and Unshod Horse Kick to Create Orbital Fractures in Equine Cadaveric Skulls.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the potential of an unshod and shod hoof to cause an orbital fracture in the event of a kick. Methods: Thirty-four equine cadaveric orbitae were exposed to a steel or horn impactor in a dropping test set-up. An impactor velocity of 7 m/s was used for both materials. Testing was repeated on the same orbit at a velocity of 10 m/s with the horn impactor if no damage occurred. A high-speed camera was used to analyse the impact process. Physical parameters (peak force and impact duration) were calculated based on quantitative video-tracking. Computed tomographic (CT) scans were generated and fracture configurations described. Results: At 7 m/s, the fracture probability was lower for horn (23.5%) than for steel impactors (70.6%, = 0.015). On CT-images, damage of the frontal, temporal, zygomatic and lacrimal bones was detected. Furthermore, the orbital socket (17.2%), the supraorbital foramen (34.5%) and the temporomandibular joint (58.6%) were involved. The frequency of affected orbital bones was not significantly different between fractures generated by steel and horn impactors, but the fracture severity was subjectively greater when fractures were generated by steel impactors. Conclusions: The orbital fracture probability was significantly higher when a kick of a shod versus unshod horse was simulated. This indicates that keeping horses unshod would decrease the injury risk of neighbouring horses when considering group housing systems.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
Publication Date: 2019-03-18 PubMed ID: 30887490DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1683368Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research analyzes the probability of an orbital fracture when horses sustain a kick from either a shod or unshod hoof. The study concluded that the fracture risk is significantly higher in the case of a shod horse kick as compared to an unshod horse.
Research Methods
- The researchers performed a dropping test on 34 equine cadaveric orbitae (eye orbits) using a metal (steel) impactor, simulating the impact of a shod horse’s kick, and a horn impactor to emulate an unshod horse’s impact.
- The impactors were dropped at a velocity of 7 m/s. If no damage was incurred, the test was repeated with the horn impactor at a higher speed of 10 m/s.
- To analyze the impact process, a high-speed camera was utilized. The physical parameters such as peak force and impact duration were computed via quantitative video-tracking.
- The researchers conducted computed tomographic (CT) scans on the test samples post-impact to observe and describe the fracture configurations.
Findings
- The results showed that the rate of fracture occurrence at 7 m/s was significantly higher for the steel impactor (70.6%) as compared to the horn impactor (23.5%), suggesting that a shod horse’s kick leads to a higher probability of orbital fractures.
- On analyzing the CT scans, it was found that the impact led to damages in the frontal, temporal, zygomatic, and lacrimal bones.
- Also, the orbital socket (17.2%), the supraorbital foramen (34.5%), and the temporomandibular joint (58.6%) were found to be impacted.
- While the frequency of affected orbital bones wasn’t significantly different between the steel and horn impactors, the severity of fractures was found to be notably higher for fractures induced by steel impactors.
Conclusion
- It was concluded from the results that the probability of incurring an orbital fracture is substantially higher in the case of a shod horse’s kick as compared to an unshod one.
- This finding suggests that maintaining horses unshod could potentially decrease the associated injury risk for neighboring horses, especially in group housing environments.
Cite This Article
APA
Joss R, Baschnagel F, Ohlerth S, Piskoty G, Fürst A, Bischofberger AS.
(2019).
The Risk of a Shod and Unshod Horse Kick to Create Orbital Fractures in Equine Cadaveric Skulls.
Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol, 32(4), 282-288.
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-1683368 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Mechanical Systems Engineering Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
- Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Mechanical Systems Engineering Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
- Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Cadaver
- Hoof and Claw
- Horses / injuries
- Orbital Fractures / etiology
- Orbital Fractures / veterinary
- Risk Assessment
- Shoes
- Steel
Conflict of Interest Statement
All authors report grants from Foundation pro Horse, Switzerland, during the conduct of the study.
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