Double DCP Fixation for the Spiral Tibial Fracture of a Racehorse

Abstract

Plate fixation was conducted in a 3 year old male Thoroughbred racehorse (480 kg) for a spiral undisplaced fracture of the tibia. The fracture line spirally occupied approximately two-thirds of the bone. The horse was anesthetized with sevoflurane and oxygen and placed in dorsal recumbency. Two dynamic compression plates (DCP) were applied on the cranio-lateral and cranio-medial sides. Histopathological examination revealed active callus formation and remodeling on the fracture line 180 days after the surgery. Based on these findings, it was concluded that good synostosis was achieved. Therefore, it was suggested that DCP fixation based on the present technique can be applied to adult horses with undisplaced or minimally displaced fractured tibia to prevent their developing a completely displaced fracture.