Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones in thoroughbred foals.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1979
- Authors:
- Ellis, D R
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looked at 18 Thoroughbred foals that had fractures in their proximal sesamoid bones, which are small bones located near the knee. Most of these injuries happened in foals younger than 2 months old, and they typically occurred in the front legs when the foals were running hard to keep up with their mothers. The most common type of fracture was a simple break in the medial sesamoid bone, often near the base. Treatment involved keeping the foals in a box to rest and sometimes surgically removing the broken piece of bone. Out of all the foals treated, only three went on to race, and one of those had surgery.
Abstract
Eighteen cases of fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones in Thoroughbred foals are described. Most of the fractures were in foals under 2 months old and all but one occurred in the forelegs. The bones commonly fractured when the foal galloped to exhaustion trying to keep up with its dam in the paddock. The types of fracture varied but a simple fracture of the medial sesamoid was most frequent and the majority were towards the base of the bone. Six foals sustained a fracture of more than one sesamoid bone and one foal fractured all 4 proximal sesamoid bones in its front legs. Treatment included box rest and the surgical removal of the separated piece of sesamoid bone. Only 3 of the foals treated have raced. One of these was treated surgically.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/428364/