Page 97 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery

CHAPTER 15

Distal Splint Bone Resection

Joanne Kramer

INDICATIONS EQUIPMENT

Fractures in the middle or distal third of the splint A chisel or osteotome, bone rasp, and tourniquet

bones with nonunion, excessive callus, sequestra, are used for this procedure.

or septic osteitis (Figure 15-1).

ANATOMY

The distal aspect of the splint bone has rudimen-

tary attachments to the palmar/plantar fascia and

proximal ligament of the ergot (Pigure 15-2). The

interosseous ligament attacl1es the splint bones to

the third metacarpal- metatarsal bone. In the hind

limb, the dorsal metatarsal artery lies between

metatarsal bones III and IV. The dorsal branch of

the ulnar nerve (lateral) and the palmar meta-

carpal or plantar metatarsal nerves (lateral and

medial) rt111 in the area of the distal end of the

splint bone (see Figure 15-2).

POSITIONING AND PREPARATION

The horse should be placed in lateral recumbency

with the affected splint bone up or in dorsal

recumbency with the affected limb suspended.

The limb should be prepared and draped for fl.111

circumferential access to the entire metacarpal/

metatarsal region.

PROCEDURE

A vertical incision is made directly over the

Figure 15-1 Mid metatarsal splint bone fracture. affected splint bone starting 4 cm proximal to the

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