Introduction

• Cause: external trauma, eg kick; internal trauma, eg fatigue fracture.
• Signs: depend on severity of fracture - peracute non-weightbearing lameness   →   acute lameness   →   mild lameness that resolves with rest   Musculoskeletal: gait evaluation  .
• Diagnosis: signs, radiography   Hindlimb: radiography  , scintigraphy   Bone: scintigraphy  .
• Treatment: emergency coaptation   Musculoskeletal: fracture - first aid  , internal fixation, stall rest.
• Prognosis: depends on severity of fracture; good for foals; poor for complete diaphyseal fracture in adults.
• See also:
  • Fracture first aid   Musculoskeletal: fracture - first aid  .
  • Fracture overview   Musculoskeletal: fracture  .
  • Tibial crest fractures   Tibia: fracture - tibial crest  .
  • Tibial physeal fractures   Tibia: fracture - physeal  .
  • Tibial malleolar fractures   Tibia: fracture - malleolar  .

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Direct external trauma, eg kick.
• Racing injury - incomplete   →   catastrophic comminuted fracture.
• Racing injury - fatigue failure of bone.

Specific

• Continuing to train horse with evidence of lameness.

Pathophysiology

• Direct trauma   →   fracture - often comminuted in adults, spiral or oblique in foals.
• Repetitive stress   →   fatigue failure of bone in performance horses.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes