Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nuclear scintigraphic evaluation of third metacarpal and metatarsal bone fractures in three horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1987
- Authors:
- Markel, M D et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, researchers used a special imaging technique called nuclear scintigraphy to check how well three horses were healing from fractures in their leg bones after surgery. Horse 1 had a fracture in the third metacarpal bone and showed consistent signs of healing, allowing it to go home 52 days after surgery. Horse 2 also had a fracture in the same bone, but it developed complications that led to the horse being put to sleep 44 days after surgery. Horse 3 had a fracture in the third metatarsal bone, and its healing process looked promising, with signs of recovery, so it was discharged from the clinic 47 days after surgery. Overall, the study showed that this imaging method can help track how well fractures are healing in horses.
Abstract
Nuclear scintigraphy was used to evaluate healing of third metacarpal bone (MC III) fractures in 2 horses (horses 1 and 2) and a third metatarsal bone fracture in 1 horse (horse 3) after stabilization of each fracture with 2 broad dynamic compression plates. In horse 1, the fracture had uniform uptake of 99mTc methylene diphosphonate on days 1, 15, and 30 after surgery. The fracture healed, and the horse was discharged from the clinic on day 52. In horse 2, a 6-cm photopenic region (ie, area of low radioactivity) was seen over the diaphysis of MC III on day 3. The region persisted and became more distinct by day 32. The diaphysis of MC III sequestered, and horse 2 was euthanatized on day 44. In horse 3, vascularity was seen bridging the fracture on day 5, with a 3-cm photopenic region over the dorsal diaphysis of the third metatarsal bone. By days 18 and 32, uptake of 99mTc methylene diphosphonate in the region had increased, indicating vascularization of the site. the fracture healed, and horse 3 was discharged from the clinic on day 47. Our findings indicated that serial nuclear scintigraphy can be used to evaluate fracture vascularization after surgery in horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3610783/