Traumatic tarsal luxation repaired without internal fixation in three horses and three ponies.

This research study examined six cases of horses and ponies that suffered from traumatic luxation of the proximal intertarsal or tarsometatarsal joint. The researchers treated them without internal fixation and found that closed reduction and external coaptation alone can be an effective treatment for most cases of tarsal luxation.

Objective of the Study

• The researchers aimed to explore the effectiveness of closed reduction and external coaptation as a treatment for traumatic tarsal luxation in horses and ponies.

Subjects of the Study

• The study involved three horses and three ponies that had undergone traumatic luxation, or dislocation, of either the proximal intertarsal or the tarsometatarsal joint.
• The luxations in these cases were accompanied by fractures in one or more tarsal bones.
• Three cases also involved disruptions of a type of supporting band known as collateral ligaments.

Treatment Methods Explored

• Five subjects were treated using a method known as ‘closed reduction’ and ‘external coaptation’, which involves manipulating the joint back into position without open surgery and providing support with a splint, cast, or bandage.
• In contrast, one pony was treated by a more invasive method, ‘open curettage’, involving removing damaged or diseased tissue, supplemented with a cancellous bone graft and cast immobilization.
• Crucially, none of the treatments used internal fixation, a method often used in such cases that involves surgical implementation of pins, wires, or screws to stabilize the joint.

Findings and Conclusion

• The study’s findings suggest that most cases of tarsal luxation in horses and ponies can be effectively treated using closed reduction and external coaptation methods.
• Thus, internal surgical fixation may not be necessary, potentially reducing the associated risks and recovery time for the animals.