Assessment and treatment of equine humeral fractures: retrospective study of 54 cases (1972-1990).
Fractures of the humerus were diagnosed in horses at The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Twenty-four horses (44.4%) were destroyed after radiographic assessment (mean age of 5.0 years). Surgical treatment was elected in 13 horses (24.1%, mean age of 0.42 years). Conservative management, consisting of prolonged stall rest, was chosen for 17 horses (31.5%, mean age of 2.2 years). In the surgically treated group, 3 foals (23.1%) all less than 2 months of age at the time of fracture and treated with intramedullary stack pinning, survived and became athletically sound. After conservative treatment, 9 (52.9%) horses were considered successful, 4 becoming athletically sound and 5 becoming pasture sound. The mean age at the time of presentation in the 9 horses considered successful was 1.81 years. With current fixation techniques, conservative management of equine humeral fractures appears to be as good an option as surgical treatment.
Carter
B G
BG
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Schneider
R K
RK
Hardy
J
J
Bramlage
L R
LR
Bertone
A L
AL
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries*; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome