Dorsomedial articular fracture of the proximal aspect of the third metacarpal bone in Standardbred racehorses: Seven cases (1978-1990)
Year: 1992
Type: article
Abstract: Seven Standardbred horses, all pacers, with a mean age of 2.9 years (range, 2 to 4 years), had dorsomedial articular fracture of the proximal aspect of the third metacarpal bone. Fracture caused acute, unilateral, severe lameness after training or racing. Lameness was abolished by midcarpal joint anesthesia in 4 horses. Six horses had a palpable bony swelling, which caused signs of pain. Radiography revealed a nondisplaced, articular, oblique fracture extending distad toward the dorsomedial cortex for a mean distance of 28 mm (range, 15 to 40 mm). In all horses, chronic periosteal proliferative changes, seen near the distal aspect of the fracture, corresponded to palpable bony exostoses and were associated with the medial attachment of the extensor carpi radialis tendon. In 1 horse, internal fixation followed by a 6-month rest resulted in a successful outcome. All other horses were given 3 months' rest without surgery and were not lame. Five horses raced successfully and lowered the lifetime race records, 1 horse was sound and trained successfully, but died of colic, and 1 horse was not lame in early training.
Authors: M. W. Ross, B. B. Martin
Institution: University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Subfield: Equine
Field: Veterinary
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4290128107