b'STEP BY STEP SARAH EVERS CONRADTheHorse.com/Step-By-StepFiguring Out Limb FracturesType of fracture, diagnosis, and treatment dictatea horses chances of recoveryrange of bone injuries, from small chips to large fragments called slab fractures. Common types include:SimpleOnly one crack in the bone. ComminutedSplintered or having many pieces of separated bone.IncompleteA fracture on only one side of the bone. CompleteA full break that results in separated bone fragments.DisplacedWhen bone fragments have moved out of their original position.StressSmall, incomplete fractures.StarMultiple cracks radiating from a central area.ArticularA fracture involving a joint.ClosedWithout a wound.OpenWith a wound.A fracture can produce localized heat, pain, and swellingeither alone or in combination with lameness. These are typically the first clinical signs youll MELINDA BROWNnotice, especially if you did not see the injury occur. The presence of a wound can throw some owners off as to the underlying Veterinarians can use digital radiograph units to diagnose fractures right away on the farm.cause of a horses pain or lameness, says Laurie Goodrich, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, F inding a horse unable to bear weightowner misconception is that you cantprofessor of surgery and lameness at Col-on a limb can be a nightmare. Andtreat a fracture.orado State Universitys Equine Hospital when your veterinarian says the wordYou need to get every case evalu- and Orthopaedic Research Center, in Fort fracture, you might immediately antici- ated separately, says Richardson. JustCollins. pate the worst-case scenario: euthanasia.because somebody has experience with aSometimes they assume that the But dont jump to conclusions.fracture that couldnt be repaired doesntwound is the primary scenario that is With all the advancements in modernmean that the one youre looking at cantcausing the soreness, but its important veterinary medicine, fractures are nobe repaired. Some of them have a terriblefor them to be aware that the bone under-longer death sentences for horses. Veteri- prognosis, and some have an excellentneath it can be affected, she says. narians can repair and rehab many limbprognosis. Also, not every fracture in theWhile lameness is the most relevant fractures, and the horse might even behorse needs surgery.clinical finding, not every lame horse has able to return to work.Lets look at types of limb fractures anda fracture. You can imagine how many Dean Richardson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS,how to handle them. horses have come in over the years to head of surgery at the George D. Widenerany hospital with an owner convinced Hospital for Large Animals at the Univer- Fracture Diagnosis the horse has broken his leg, when in sity of Pennsylvanias New Bolton Center,The first thing to understand aboutfact what it has is a hoof abscess, says in Kennett Square, says the biggest horsefractures is that they encompass a wideRichardson. The thing we always teach 28September 2019The Horse | TheHorse.com'