Equine Fracture Treatment Flashcards
What are the fractures to immediately euthanise a horse on welfare grounds?
Comminuted fractures of pastern region
○ Broken in multiple places
Compound fractures of any long bone
○ Comminuted and open
Complete fractures of long bones
Pelvic fracture
When are there exceptions to euthanising a horse with comminuted fractures of pastern?
Ponies under 300kg or foals
When are there exceptions to euthanising a horse with compound fractures of long bones?
Ponies under 300kg or foals
When are there exceptions to euthanising a horse with complete fractures of long bones
Ponies under 300kg or foals
What is Forelimb Zone 1?
Distal metacarpus down to foot
What is the goal and purpose of bandaging Forelimb Zone 1?
Align cortices of bone in a vertical plane
Continual line from radius, through metacarpal bone, through fetlock and digits
To get the dorsal parts into a straight line
How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 1?
apply dorsal splint and bandaging - not extensive
Use PVC drainpipe and heel wedge
What is Forelimb Zone 2?
Distal radius to mid-metacarpal region
What is the goal and purpose of bandaging Forelimb Zone 2?
Align cortices of bones in a vertical plane
Keep carpus in full extension and stabilise metacarpal-phalangeal joint
How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 2?
Apply a lateral & caudal splint
Apply a heavier bandage - Stabilise joints
What is Forelimb Zone 3?
Proximal and middle radius
What is the goal and purpose of bandaging Forelimb Zone 3?
Prevent abduction of the limb
Stop leg swinging sideways and destabilizing the fracture
How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 3?
Full Robert jones bandage
Lateral splint to withers
What is Forelimb Zone 4?
Proximal from zone 3
Scapula, humerus, ulna
What is the goal of bandaging Forelimb Zone 4?
No stabilization needed
Heavy distal limb bandage would have a pendulum effect
How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 4?
Plantar splint for vertical alignment
What is Hindlimb Zone 1?
Same as Forelimb
Distal metacarpus down to foot
Proximal phalangeal bones (P1,P2)
What is the goal of bandaging Hindlimb Zone 1?
Same as Forelimb
Align cortices of bone in a vertical plane
Continual line from radius, through metacarpal bone, through fetlock and digits
To get the dorsal parts into a straight line
How do you stabilise Hindlimb Zone 1?
Same as Forelimb
Apply dorsal splint and bandaging
Not too extensive bandaging
Use PVC drainpipe and heel wedge or commercial splint
What is Hindlimb Zone 2?
Not as proximally as forelimb due to hock
Middle and proximal metatarsal regions
What is the goal of bandaging Hindlimb Zone 2?
Same as Forelimb
Align cortices of bones in a vertical plane
Keep carpus in full extension and stabilise metacarpal-phalangeal joint
How do you stabilise Hindlimb Zone 2?
Thick heavy bandage
Difficult to immobilise hock due to reciprocal apparatus
Plantar splint for stabilization
Possible lateral splint as well
What is Hindlimb Zone 3?
Tibial fractures
Complicated to manage
Lots of muscle in this area - can easily become opened
Poor prognosis
What is the goal of bandaging Hindlimb Zone 3?
Preventing abduction
Stop leg swinging sideways and destabilising fracture
How do you stabilise Hindlimb Zone 3?
○ Long lateral splint
Reciprocal apparatus means flexion of stifle = flexion of hock
Leading to collapse of tibial fracture
Where do you splint for each region?
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 - Forelimb only
