Lecture 18: Principles of Equine Fracture Management Flashcards
T or F: horses have to stand immediately after surgery
True
What are complications from fracture repair
- Prolonged recovery- myopathy and neuropathy
- Implant infections and subsequent osteomyelitis
- Support limb laminitis
What are the AO-ASIF principles
- Precise anatomic reconstruction- accurate alignment, perfect reconstruction of joint surfaces, sx approaches that allow visualization
- Stable fixation
- Soft tissue considerations
- Successful internal fixation
What does successful internal fixation mean
Anatomic reconstruction of bones and joint surfaces that allow sharing of loads between reconstructed bone and implants
What are the simple types of fractures
- Splint bone fractures
- MC stress fractures
- Condylar fractures
- Coffin bone fractures
What are major types of fractures
Long bone fractures
1. Radius
2. MC/MT 3
4. Tibia
Where are splint fractures most common
Distal 1/3 of bone
Are forelimbs or hind limbs most commonly affected with splint bone fractures
Forelimbs
What can cause splint bone fractures
External trauma- kick
Split bone fractures from trauma are often open or closed
Open
what wrong
Open splint bone fracture
Fractures of the mid and proximal 1/3 splint bone are complicated by ___, __, and __
Comminution, joint involvement and bone sequestration
Proximal fragments of splint bone fractures must be secured to ___ to prevent excessive motion and subsequent ___
MC/MT 3, subsequent OA
Proximal fragments of ___especially must be secured to MC/MT II because they make up significant portion of articular surface of carpometacarpal joint
MC II
Splint bones can heal without internal fixation but often result in __ which can impinge on ___ necessitating removal
Callous, suspensory ligament
What is dorsal metacarpal disease
Periostitis and stress fracture of dorsal surface of MC3
What this
Dorsal metacarpal disease- stress fracture of dorsal surface of MC3
Who is likely to get dorsal metacarpal disease
Young thoroughbreds in race training
What are signs of dorsal metacarpal disease
Acute onset after intense exercise, dorsal cortex of M3 painful on palpation
Dorsal metacarpal disease is also called
Bucked shins, shin splints
What is the early phase of dorsal metacarpal disease and what do radiographs show
Bucked shins
Painful on palpation, heat, swelling
Rads show subperiosteal callous, endosteal thickening but NO FRACTURE LINE
What is the late phase of dorsal metacarpal disease
Dorsal cortical fracture, typically 60-70% through dorsal cortex
What is this
Late phase of dorsal metacarpal disease—dorsal cortical fracture
What is tx for dorsal metacarpal disease- early phase
Gradually increase stress to dorsal surface of M3, controlled exercise (reduce galloping by 50%), if speed increased, decrease distance, run on softer surface
What is tx for late phase dorsal metacarpal disease- dorsal cortical fracture
Surgery- place unicortical lag screw
What are clinical signs of MC/MT III condylar fractures
Lameness after work/race
Fetlock joint effusion