Page 192 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

Musculoskeletal system: 1.4 The forelimb 167

VetBooks.ir 1.315 1.316

Fig. 1.315 A complete displaced comminuted Fig. 1.316 Full-limb Robert Jones bandage on a
mid-body radial fracture in a donkey following a kick horse with an incomplete radial fracture. Note that
injury. the lateral splint extends to the proximal scapula.

fractures can be managed conservatively using caudal 1.317 1.318
and lateral splints to stabilise the limb. The lateral
splint should extend to at least the level of the shoul-
der to prevent abduction of the limb by the predomi-
nately laterally located muscle mass (Fig. 1.316).
Regular monitoring with radiography and wound
management is important, particularly since cyclical
loading and infection can lead to bone failure several
days later.

Prognosis
Adult horses with displaced complete radial frac-
tures have an unfavourable prognosis and are usu-
ally euthanased. Incomplete fractures in adult
horses can heal completely barring complica-
tions such as infection or displacement. Complete
closed fractures in foals have a favourable out-
come following internal fixation provided com-
minution is not present and infection is avoided Figs. 1.317, 1.318 (1.317) A complete simple
(Figs. 1.317, 1.318). transverse radial fracture in a 2-day old foal. (1.318)
Repair was achieved using a double-plate technique.