Surgical management and outcome of a type-III Salter-Harris fracture of the frontal plane of the distal radial physis in a foal

Authors: Rutherford DJ, Textor J, Fretz PB
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 55, Issue 5, pp 248-252, Oct 2007
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Horse, Livestock
Subject Terms: Skeletal/bone/cartilage, Limb - lower, Joint/arthrology, Fractures, Disease/defect, Growth/development, Locomotor, Surgery
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: CASE HISTORY: A 4-week-old Thoroughbred filly presented with lameness of acute, severe onset of the left foreleg (LF) of 3 days’ duration.
CLINICAL FINDINGS: Diffuse swelling was present around the distal radius and carpus of the LF. Carpal varus that could be reduced manually was present. Radiographs revealed an intra- articular frontal-plane fracture in the distal radial epiphysis, which continued cranially through the distal radial physis (DRP). The lateral aspect of the DRP was wider than expected. Latero-medial carpal instability was resolved by placement of a lag screw from the dorsal midline through the epiphysis across the fracture. The DRP closed prematurely, resulting in a nonreducible carpal varus deformity, which was partially corrected surgically, and reduced the length of the limb.
DIAGNOSIS: Frontal-plane Salter-Harris type-III DRP fracture and varus deformity due to physeal injury.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Frontal-plane Salter-Harris type- III fractures do not appear to have been previously reported in horses and may be associated with a poor prognosis for athletic activity.
KEY WORDS: Horse, physis, fracture, Salter-Harris type-III, frontal
 

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