NONCOMMINUTED FRACTURES OF THE PROXIMAL PHALANX IN 69 HORSES

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 186  (6) , 573-579
Abstract
In a retrospective study, the case records for 69 horses with noncomminuted fractures of the proximal phalanx, excluding proximal chip fractures were examined. Forty-nine of the horses sustained the fracture while racing or training for racing. Radiographic examination of all affected limbs was performed and fractures were classified into 6 noncomminuted types: midsagittal fractures, including short incomplete midsagittal fractures, long incomplete midsagittal (LIMS) fractures and complete midsagittal (CMS) fractures; dorsal frontal fractures; distal joint fractures; plantar process fractures; physeal fractures; and oblique fractures. Four horses were destroyed before treatment. Sixty-five horses were treated and 63 survived to go home. Long term follow-up evaluation of the horses that were sent home revealed that 4 were euthanatized after discharge because of persistent lameness of the fractured limb. Of the 59 remaining horses, 34 returned to racing, 7 were used as show or pleasure riding animals, 8 were used for breeding and 10 were lost to follow-up. More Standardbreds with noncomminuted proximal phalangeal fractures returned to racing than did Thoroughbreds. Of 30 Standardbreds that raced or trained before the fracture, 23 (76.7%) returned to racing, 8 to their previous level of performance, 11 to a lower level of performance and 4 to an unknown level of performance. The Standardbreds that returned to racing were horses with physeal fractures (2/2), LIMS fractures (4/4), CMS fractures (11/16), short incomplete midsagittal fractures (4/7), distal joint fractures (1/2) and plantar process fractures (1/2). Of 21 Thoroughbreds that raced or trained before the injury, 11 (52.4%) returned to racing, 7 to their previous level of performance and 4 to a lower level of performance. The Thoroughbreds that returned to racing were horses with distal joint fractures (1/1), dorsal frontal fractures (4/5), LIMS fractures (2/3), plantar process fractures (1/2) and CMS fractures (3/11).

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