Page 191 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

166 CHAPTER 1

VetBooks.ir 1.310 confirmed through radiography. Multiple views
may be required to characterise the type and
length of fracture (Figs. 1.311, 1.312). Most frac-
tures propagate proximally and spiral through
the bone but occasionally involvement of the
articular surface of the distal radius may occur
(Figs. 1.313, 1.314). Any discontinuity along
the caudal cortex or presence of fragmentation in
a non-displaced fracture should be viewed with
extreme caution as the bone may subsequently
fail at this point, particularly if a wound commu-
nicates with the bone. Proximal radial fractures
may be associated with fractures of the ulna and/
or elbow luxation.
Fig. 1.310 Photo
of the cranial Management
antebrachium Adult horses with complete, displaced radial frac-
showing moderate tures, particularly if open, are often euthanased
soft-tissue swelling (Fig. 1.315), although double-plate fixation has
over the distomedial been described, particularly in smaller or lighter
radius following a breeds. Complete radial fractures in foals are ame-
kick injury. nable to repair by internal fixation. Incomplete radial

1.311 1.312 1.313 1.314

Figs. 1.311, 1.312 Lateromedial (1.311) and Figs. 1.313, 1.314 (1.313) Craniolateral/
craniolateral/caudomedial (1.312) radiographs of the caudomedial oblique radiograph of a horse with an
distal antebrachium showing an incomplete radial incomplete spiral fracture of the radius 3 weeks
fracture in the caudomedial aspect of the radius. Note following a kick injury to the right fore antebrachium.
also that the fracture line disappears and reappears at (1.314) Radiograph 1 month later showing increased
the distal condyle of the radius, showing it to have an bony density related to further fracture healing.
articular component.