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Clinical Evaluation of a Titanium, Headless Variable‐Pitched Tapered Cannulated Compression Screw for Repair of Frontal Plane Slab Fractures of the Third Carpal Bone in Thoroughbred Racehorses
Author(s) -
HIRSCH JONATHAN E.,
GALUPPO LARRY D.,
GRAHAM LINDSAY E.,
SIMPSON EDWIN L.,
FERRARO GREGORY L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2007.00251.x
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , scaphoid fracture , carpal bones , coronal plane , wrist , anatomy
Objective— To report clinical evaluation of third carpal bone (C3) frontal plane slab fracture repair with the Acutrak ® screw system. Study Design— Prospective case series. Sample Population— Racing Thoroughbreds (n=17) with frontal C3 slab fractures. Methods— C3 slab fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses (1999–2004) were repaired by use of the Acutrak ® screw system. Data collected were (1) preoperative variables—gender, age at injury, limb involved, injury occurrence, fracture thickness, complexity, and displacement, race starts and earnings and (2) postoperative variables were: surgical complications, days to first start, race starts, and earnings. A Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used to compare pre‐ and postoperative starts and earnings; significance was set at P <.05. Results— Seventeen Thoroughbred racehorses (12 females, 3 males, 2 geldings) were enrolled. Mean (±SD) age at injury was 3.3±1.0 years. Right carpi (10) were affected more than left (7). Ten injuries occurred during training, 7 during racing. Twelve of 15 horses that raced before injury returned to racing. Average days to first start was 349.3±153.9 days. Horses that returned to racing had more starts after repair (median, 6.5 versus 3.5; P =.04) and did not have decreased earnings per start (median, $2452 versus $3061; P =.30). Conclusion— The Acutrak ® screw system is a useful repair technique for frontal C3 slab fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses. Clinical Relevance— Adequate reduction and stability of C3 slab fractures can be achieved with the Acutrak ® screw system, decreasing the likelihood of fragment splitting and screw head impingement on carpal soft tissues.