Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treatment of a chronic comminuted fracture of the fibula in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1998
- Authors:
- O'Rielly, J L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A four-year-old Standardbred gelding was brought in because he had been limping on his right back leg for about three to four months. After examining him and taking X-rays, the vet found that he had a chronic comminuted fracture, which means the bone was broken into several pieces, in the upper part of his right fibula. To help the bone heal, a special type of bone graft was placed at the fracture site. Three months later, follow-up X-rays showed that the fracture was healing well. Overall, the treatment was successful in helping the horse recover.
Abstract
A four-year-old Standardbred gelding was examined because of vague right hind limb lameness of 3 to 4 months' duration. Results of physical examination, radiography, and scintigraphy were indicative of a chronic comminuted fracture of the proximal portion of the right fibula. A cancellous bone graft was placed in the fracture site, and 3 months later, the fracture appeared to be healed radiographically. Fractures of the fibula are rare in horses and should not be confused with normal anatomic discontinuities that result in a bi- or tripartite appearance of the fibula on radiographs. Because the fibula is a non-weight-bearing bone in horses, lameness associated with fibular fractures may be vague.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9470051/