Incomplete palmar fracture of the proximal extremity of the third metacarpal bone in horses: Ten cases (1981–1986)
- 15 March 1988
- journal article
- Published by American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Vol. 192 (6) , 798-803
- https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.1988.192.06.798
Abstract
Summary: In 4 adult horses, simple, nondisplaced, incomplete fracture of the proximal extremity of the third metacarpal bone (MC3) was identified radiographically only on the dorsopalmar projection. Lameness was slight to moderate. Although nerve blocks of the foot and fetlock did not alter the lameness, high palmar regional nerve block improved the gait in 1 of the 2 horses on which it was performed. Pain on palpation or swollen distal accessory (inferior check) ligament, flexor tendons, and suspensory ligament were not found in any horse. The fracture was localized to the palmar surface of the proximal extremity of the MC3 on the basis of the intense uptake of radiopharmaceutical (99MTc-labeled sodium medronate) observed in that area during the soft tissue and delayed bone phases of a nuclear scintigraphic examination (nuclear scan) performed concurrently with radiography. Of 4 horses evaluated 6 months after the initial diagnosis, 3 had medullary sclerosis without radiographic evidence of fracture; results of follow-up nuclear scintigraphy performed in one of these horses at the same time were normal. Incomplete fracture also was suspected in another 6 adult horses with clinical lameness referable to the proximal extremity of the MC3. Although a fracture line could not be seen radiographically, trabecular hypertrophy and/or medullary sclerosis of the proximal extremity of the MC3 were detected on the dorsopalmar projection. Further, during nuclear scintigraphy, an intense uptake of the radiopharmaceutical was observed on the palmar aspect of the proximal extremity of the MC3 in all 6 horses. The area of uptake was similar to the area of uptake on the nuclear scan images of the 4 horses in which a fracture line was visible radiographically. After a variable rest period (1 to 12 months), 9 of 10 horses were sound, 5 reportedly had returned to the previous level of performance, and 1 was lost to followup.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: