Treatment of a second carpal bone fracture by removal under ultrasonographic guidance in a horse.
OBJECTIVE
To report an unusual 2nd carpal bone (C2) slab fracture and its treatment, using an ultrasonographically assisted, minimally invasive arthrotomy technique, for fragment removal.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
An 11-year-old crossbred Warmblood gelding.


METHODS
A bone fragment, spanning the height of C2, identified on the palmaromedial aspect of C2 was demarcated intraoperatively using ultrasonographically guided needles and removed by arthrotomy.


RESULTS
Fracture fragment removal was achieved using a small, ultrasonographically guided arthrotomy. The horse has become sound after treatment and returned to the previous level of pleasure riding activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative ultrasonography was used to delineate and facilitate removal of an unusual slab fragment of C2, through a minimally sized arthrotomy. Despite the presence of pancarpal osteoarthritis and partial involvement of the medial collateral ligament, the prognosis appeared to be satisfactory for this pleasure riding horse.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonographic guidance may be used to optimize the approach to C2 articular bony fragments that may not be observed using arthroscopy.
Piccot-Crézollet
Cyrille
C
Département hippique, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy-l'Etoile, France. c.piccot@vet-lyon.fr
Cauvin
Eddy R
ER
D000818:Animals; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D003646:Debridement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*