ABSTRACT
The torsional monotonic structural material properties of equine metacarpi with or without, either a 5/16 inch or 3/8 inch diameter bicortical lateromedial middiaphyseal hole were assessed to determine the effect of a hole on metacarpal strength. Torsional stiffness was not significantly effected by the presence of a bicortical hole, whereas yield and failure angles, torques and energies of metacarpi with a hole were 51% to 97% of those of intact bones. Significant differences were not apparent for yield and failure mechanical properties between metacarpi with a 5/16 inch diameter hole and metacarpi with a 3/8 inch diameter hole; however, postyield mechanical properties were lower for metacarpi with a 3/8 inch hole. Whereas some metacarpi with a 5/16 inch hole were capable of plastic deformation before failure, metacarpi with a 3/8 inch diameter hole appeared to have sufficient stress concentration to propagate complete fracture on structural yield.
Subject(s)
Horses/anatomy & histology , Internal Fixators/veterinary , Metacarpus/anatomy & histology , Animals , Biomechanical Phenomena , Female , Fractures, Bone/etiology , Fractures, Bone/surgery , Fractures, Bone/veterinary , Horse Diseases/etiology , Horse Diseases/physiopathology , Horse Diseases/surgery , Horses/physiology , Horses/surgery , Linear Models , Male , Metacarpus/physiology , Metacarpus/surgeryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of Thoroughbred racehorses that would be capable of racing performance after recovery from infectious pleuropneumonia. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 70 Thoroughbred horses that had recovered from pleuropneumonia. Only horses < or = 5 years old and horses > 5 years old known to be in race training at the time of illness were included in the study. RESULTS: Forty-three of the 70 (61%) horses raced after recovery, and 24 of the 43 (56%) won at least 1 race. Horses that required placement of an indwelling thoracic drain apparently did not have a worse prognosis than did horses that did not require placement of a drain. The prognosis for racing for horses that developed pleuropneumonia-associated complications (pulmonary abscess, cranial thoracic mass, bronchopleural fistula) was worse than the prognosis for horses that did not develop these complications. Duration of hospitalization was not considered indicative of outcome. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In Thoroughbreds, the prognosis for return to racing after recovery from uncomplicated pleuropneumonia appears to be good.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Horse Diseases/physiopathology , Physical Conditioning, Animal , Pleuropneumonia/veterinary , Sports , Animals , Bacterial Infections/physiopathology , Bacterial Infections/therapy , Breeding , Horse Diseases/therapy , Horses , Pleuropneumonia/physiopathology , Pleuropneumonia/therapy , Prognosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The formation of cranial thoracic masses (CTM) as a sequel to infectious pleuropneumonia is described. Using ultrasound, masses were diagnosed subjectively as abscesses or loculations. Eight of 99 cases with pleuropneumonia had CTM. Clinical signs associated with the presence of a CTM included increased heart rate, jugular distention, forelimb 'pointing' and caudal displacement of the heart. Techniques used for diagnostic ultrasonographic examination of the cranial thorax are described. Five of the eight horses with CTM responded to conservative medical management; the other three required percutaneous drainage of the mass to relieve worsening signs of cardiac decompensation. Improvements in cardiovascular parameters were evident within 12 h of drainage. The indications for and limitations of invasive drainage of cranial thoracic masses are discussed.
