Surgical management and outcome of a type-III Salter-Harris fracture of the frontal plane of the distal radial physis in a foal.
METHODS
A 4-week-old Thoroughbred filly presented with lameness of acute, severe onset of the left foreleg (LF) of 3 days' duration.


RESULTS
Diffuse swelling was present around the distal radius and carpus of the LF. Carpal varus that could be reduced manually was present. Radiographs revealed an intra- articular frontal-plane fracture in the distal radial epiphysis, which continued cranially through the distal radial physis (DRP). The lateral aspect of the DRP was wider than expected. Latero-medial carpal instability was resolved by placement of a lag screw from the dorsal midline through the epiphysis across the fracture. The DRP closed prematurely, resulting in a non-reducible carpal varus deformity, which was partially corrected surgically, and reduced the length of the limb.


METHODS
Frontal-plane Salter-Harris type-III DRP fracture and varus deformity due to physeal injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Frontal-plane Salter-Harris type- III fractures do not appear to have been previously reported in horses and may be associated with a poor prognosis for athletic activity.
Rutherford
D J
DJ
Massey Equine, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. daverutherford79@google.com
Textor
J
J
Fretz
P B
PB
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000662:veterinary*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000072042:Salter-Harris Fractures