Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Conservative management of minimally displaced radial fractures in three horses.
- Journal:
- Australian veterinary journal
- Year:
- 2002
- Authors:
- Matthews, S et al.
- Affiliation:
- University Veterinary Centre · United Kingdom
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Three adult horses were found to have minimally displaced spiral fractures in their front legs, with two of them having open fractures and one having a closed fracture. The diagnosis was confirmed through X-rays taken at various times after the injury. Because the fractures were not severely misaligned and surgery was not likely to help, the horses were treated conservatively, meaning they were managed without surgery. One horse did develop a small piece of dead bone and a draining infection, which required surgery three months later. Overall, two of the horses returned to pleasure riding a year after their fractures, while the third horse was able to graze comfortably after eight months.
Abstract
Minimally displaced, spiral, radial fractures were diagnosed in three adult horses. Two horses had open fractures and in one horse the fracture was closed. A diagnosis was made on radiographs taken 24 h, 5, and 9 days after the fracture. There was minimal displacement of the fracture fragments despite the considerable time which had elapsed between fracture and diagnosis and an unfavourable prognosis with internal fixation, so conservative therapy was the preferred method of treatment. One horse developed a sequestrum and draining sinus, which was treated surgically under general anaesthesia 3 months after diagnosis of the fracture. Other complications were minimal and transient. Two horses were being used for pleasure riding 12 months after fracture and one horse was pasture sound at 8 months.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12180878/