title: Salter-Harris type II metacarpal and metatarsal fracture in three foals. Treatment by minimally-invasive lag screw osteosynthesis combined with external coaptation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe minimally-invasive lag screw osteosynthesis combined with external coaptation for the treatment of Salter-Harris type II third metacarpal and third metatarsal bone fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three foals aged two weeks to four months with a Salter-Harris type II third metacarpal or third metatarsal fracture. Surgery was carried out under general anaesthesia in lateral recumbency. After fracture reduction, the metaphyseal fragment was stabilized with two cortical screws placed in lag fashion under fluoroscopic control. A cast was applied for at least two weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All foals had a good outcome with complete fracture healing and return to complete soundness without any angular limb deformity. All foals had moderate transient digital hyperextension after cast removal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internal fixation of Salter-Harris type II third metacarpal or third metatarsal fractures with two cortical screws in lag fashion, combined with external coaptation provided good stabilization and preserved the longitudinal growth potential of the injured physis.
authors.affiliation: Micaël D. Klopfenstein Bregger, DVM, Diplomate ECVS, Swiss Institute for Equine Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 124, 3001 Bern, Switzerland, Phone: +41 31 631 22 68, Fax: +41 31 631 26 20, E-mail: micael.klopfenstein@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Micaël D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Klopfenstein Bregger
authors.forename: Anton E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kircher
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kluge
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kummer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000662:veterinary*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D050279:Metacarpal Bones / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Foal; Salter-Harris type II fracture; minimally-invasive osteosynthesis; third metacarpal bone; third metatarsal bone