Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Treatment of a periarticular tibial fracture in a foal with a hybrid external fixator.
- Journal:
- Veterinary surgery : VS
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- De Godoy, Roberta Ferro et al.
- Affiliation:
- Large Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital · Brazil
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 5-month-old male foal had a specific type of leg fracture called a Salter-Harris type II fracture in his right tibia (the bone in the lower leg). To fix this, the veterinarians performed surgery and used a special device called a hybrid external fixator, which helps keep the bone stable while it heals. After the surgery, the foal was able to put some weight on his leg, and after 60 days, X-rays showed that the fracture had healed well enough for the fixator to be removed. This case suggests that using a hybrid external fixator can be an effective way to treat this kind of fracture in young foals.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report repair of a right proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fracture in a foal with a hybrid external fixator (HEF). STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: A 5-month-old male foal. METHODS: After open surgical reduction, an HEF built with wires, 2 half-rings, 3 half-threaded connecting rods, and Schanz pins was used to stabilize the fracture. RESULTS: Immediately after surgery, the foal had relatively good weight bearing. The HEF was removed at 60 days after radiographic confirmation of healing. CONCLUSIONS: HEF can be used to stabilize a proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fracture in a 5-month-old foal. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: HEF should be considered as another option for repair of proximal tibial Salter-Harris type II fractures in foals.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19573069/