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.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
B G
BG
Carter
R K
RK
Schneider
J
J
Hardy
L R
LR
Bramlage
A L
AL
Bertone
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