Treatment of type 2 and 4 olecranon fractures with locking compression plate osteosynthesis in horses: a prospective study (2002-2008).

The research article is about a study investigating the effectiveness of locking compression plates in the treatment of type 2 and 4 olecranon fractures in horses, showing positive results but also occasional complications.

Overview of the Study

• The study was prospective in nature, meaning it was planned and carried out over a period of time, from 2002 to 2008, specifically focusing on the treatment of olecranon fractures in horses using a technique called locking compression plate (LCP) osteosynthesis.
• The researchers worked on a sample of 18 fractures in 16 different horses. The fractures were not all the same – twelve were simple (type 2) fractures, while six were complex, comminuted (type 4) fractures.
• Six of the fractures were open ones, where the bone had penetrated the skin, and the remaining 12 were closed, where the skin was still intact over the broken bone.

Treatment and Results

• Each horse was treated using LCP osteosynthesis, which involved the open reduction (repositioning of the displaced bone or bones) and the placement of one or two locking compression plates to facilitate healing.
• The results showed that complete fracture healing was achieved in 13 of the 16 horses – a significant majority.
• Unfortunately, three horses had to be euthanized. Two because of severe infection, likely due to the open nature of their fractures or post-operative complications, and one because it suffered another serious, fragmented fracture of the radius, a bone in the front leg, 11 days after the original operation.

Post-Treatment Complications

• There were few complications after the horses were discharged from the Equine Hospital at the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich.
• Two horses ended up with an infection at the site of the implanted plate, and three developed lameness.
• However, all these complications were successfully treated through implant removal.

Conclusion

• The overall conclusion was that the use of locking compression plates (LCP) for osteosynthesis in horses is fairly easy and resulted in a clinical outcome that was comparable to another established method, dynamic compression plate (DCP) osteosynthesis.
• This suggests that LCP osteosynthesis could be an effective approach for veterinarians when treating such fractures in horses.