Epidemiologic characteristics of catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine characteristics, incidence rate, and possible associations with selected demographic characteristics of catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries (CMIs) in Thoroughbred racehorses.


METHODS
76 Thoroughbreds with CMIs.


METHODS
Incidence rates of CMIs during racing or training were calculated with number of CMIs as the numerator and overall numbers of races or training events during 2004 and 2005 as the denominators. Exact 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Associations between incidence and dichotomous exposure factors, nominal factors, and ordinal factors were determined. Only univariable associations were examined.


RESULTS
76 horses were euthanized because of CMI and represented 2.36 and 1.69 deaths/1,000 racing starts in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Of these, 57 were euthanized within 60 days before or after a race, which yielded a point incidence of 1.05/1,000 racing starts and 0.39/1,000 training starts.


CONCLUSIONS
Incidence rate of CMIs at 2 Ontario racetracks was similar to that at other North American racetracks. A cumulative death rate of 1 to 2 deaths/wk should be considered typical when designing prevention strategies and offers a baseline value for measuring improvement.
Comparative Orthopedics Research Laboratory, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Antonio M
AM
Cruz
Zvonimir
Z
Poljak
Catherine
C
Filejski
Mark L
ML
Lowerison
Kyle
K
Goldie
S Wayne
SW
Martin
Mark B
MB
Hurtig
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012420:Running / Q000293:injuries*