Evaluation of a surgical technique for repair of equine accessory carpal bone fractures
Easley, K.J.; Schneider, J.E.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 178(3): 219-223
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 7228775 Document Number: 179994
In 9 horses, osteotomies were performed to simulate accessory carpal bone fractures. Screw fixation, aided by a large C-clamp, was performed on 6 of the 9 horses. Three were treated conservatively, as controls, with fractures not repaired; they remained clinically lame throughout the 6-month study. Fibrocartilaginous non-union developed in each of the 3 controls. At 150 days, those with screw fixation were free of lameness, with evidence of bony union. The results of clinical, radiographic, and pathological evaluations showed surgical repair to be superior to prolonged rest in treating equine accessory carpal bone fractures.