Tibial stress fractures in racing standardbreds: 13 cases (1989-1993).
Abstract: To determine clinical signs, radiographic and scintigraphic findings, and performance outcome of racing Standardbreds with tibial stress fractures. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 13 racing Standardbreds with tibial stress fractures. Methods: Information concerning clinical signs, diagnostic evaluation, and recommendations was obtained by review of the medical records. Performance information before and after diagnosis of the fracture was collected from racing records, and follow-up information was obtained from the owners or trainers by use of a telephone questionnaire. Results: Horses with tibial stress fractures were moderately lame, and diagnosis was made by nuclear scintigraphy and radiography. Fractures were more likely to occur in 2-year-old horses than in older horses. The fracture location was unique for Standardbreds; 11 of 13 developed stress fractures in the mid-diaphysis of the tibia, whereas fractures in Thoroughbreds are usually in the proximal caudal or caudolateral cortex. Fractures occurred in young horses that had raced or were in advanced race training. All horses were treated with rest alone, and 10 of 13 horses raced after injury. The horses that raced after injury were able to return to a level of performance that was equal to or better than the level raced before injury. 8 of 10 horses established a lifetime-best winning time after injury. Conclusions: Tibial stress fractures are a cause of lameness in young racing Standardbreds. Diagnosis is aided by nuclear scintigraphy. The prognosis for return to previous level of performance after a tibial stress fracture is good.
Publication Date: 1996-08-01 PubMed ID: 8755986
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper is about the common occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment of tibial stress fractures in young racing Standardbreds, highlighting that after treatment, the horses were able to resume or even improve their performance levels.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to analyze the clinical signs, diagnostic methods, and performance outcomes of racing Standardbreds diagnosed with tibial stress fractures.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted a retrospective case study of 13 racing Standardbreds that had these fractures.
- They gathered relevant information by reviewing medical records and using telephone surveys to get updates from the owners or trainers.
- The performance data before and after the fracture diagnosis was obtained from racing records.
Results
- The researched horses displayed moderate lameness and were diagnosed primarily through nuclear scintigraphy and radiography.
- Most of the tibial stress fractures were found to occur in 2-year-old horses rather than older ones.
- Interestingly, the Standardbreds developed stress fractures midway through their tibial diaphysis (shaft of long bone) – a deviation from Thoroughbreds, where fractures usually occur at the proximal caudal or caudolateral cortex.
- It was found that these fractures often occurred in young horses that were either racing or undergoing advanced race training.
Treatment and Recovery
- All the horses were treated with rest alone.
- Out of the 13 horses studied, 10 managed to race again after their injury.
- The race performance of these recovered horses either matched or surpassed their performance before the injury. Furthermore, 8 out of these 10 horses managed to record their lifetime-best racing time post-injury.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that tibial stress fractures are responsible for lameness in young racing Standardbreds.
- The researchers also noted that nuclear scintigraphy facilitated the diagnosis of these fractures.
- Most importantly, the prognosis for returning to the previous athletic levels after a tibial stress fracture was found to be good in most cases.
Cite This Article
APA
Ruggles AJ, Moore RM, Bertone AL, Schneider RK, Bailey MQ.
(1996).
Tibial stress fractures in racing standardbreds: 13 cases (1989-1993).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 209(3), 634-637.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1089, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Breeding
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Fractures, Stress / diagnostic imaging
- Fractures, Stress / veterinary
- Horses / injuries
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Prognosis
- Radiography
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Retrospective Studies
- Sports
- Tibial Fractures / diagnostic imaging
- Tibial Fractures / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Bowers K, Weinhandl JT, Anderson DE. A review of equine tibial fractures.. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):171-181.
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