Horse news, research and information

The Portuguese veterinarian described the successful repair of a complete fracture of the artillery bone of a circus pony by inserting a metal plate.

Complete fractures of the third metacarpal bone are one-third of all long bone fractures in horses, and are mainly related to external trauma or high-energy injuries.

Scientific literature shows that this type of fracture has been repaired by stabilizing and internally using two bone plates.

Isabel Dias and her colleagues wrote in the Open Veterinary Journal describing the use of a single bone plate to repair the fracture of a 7-year-old Shetland Islands circus pony.

The 103 kg animal was knocked down by a truck and recovered completely after three months.

When the pony was sent to Terras-Os-Montes University and Alto Duro University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, it was emotional and seemed unable or unwilling to stand. He has a small penetrating injury on his right hind limb. The X-ray showed a complete fracture, with one end of the broken bone offset to one side.

The owner chose surgical repair. During the operation under general anesthesia, an eight-hole compression plate was used, the outline of which was consistent with the side of the bone, to stabilize the fracture. Four screws were used above the fracture and three screws were used in the lower part.

The pony received postoperative antibiotics and postoperative pain relief. X-rays are taken regularly to monitor the fracture.

After the operation, the entire limb was placed in a cast, and the ponies were restricted from moving for four weeks.

These animals remained in the hospital until he fully recovered three months after the operation.

At this time, due to slight claudication and swelling of nearby joints, and because X-rays showed obvious bone repair, it was decided to remove the internal implants.

The research team reported that he returned to his previous exercise level without any obvious postoperative complications or degree of claudication.

"The originality of this clinical case stems from the fact that for a pony of this weight, even for extremely demanding physical activities in this case, you can choose a single board instead of a double board, thereby reducing costs and Risk of infection."

The case report team consists of Dias, Luís Maia, Miguel Quaresma, Mário Cotovio and Filipe Silva, all of whom are affiliated with the Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro universities in Vila Real, Portugal.

Isabel R. Dias, Luís M. Maia, Miguel Quaresma, Mário Cotovio, Filipe C. Silva Open Veterinary Journal, (2021), Vol. 11(4): 645–650 DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2021.v11.i4.14

The case report published under the Creative Commons license can be read here.

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