En retrospektiv studie av hovbensfrakturer på svenska varmblodiga travhästar

Abstract: Records of P III fractures from 235 horses, 71 of them were standardbreds, treated at 3 major Swedish equine hospitals (Strömsholm, SLU and Mälaren hästklinik) between 1994 and 2004 were evaluated for information such as the patients age, sex, breed, type of fracture, affected leg, time and place of the injury, treatment and, if possible, result of treatment. For the standardbreds, result of treatment was also followed up through written correspondence with owners and by screening AB Trav och Galopp racing-results. Moreover, results of horses with type II and III-fractures treated with rest and therapeutic shooing only were compared to horses in which lag screw fixation were added to achieve interfragmental compression. Compared to the rest of the Swedish horse population, P III fractures were slightly more common among standardbred horses. The mean age of the affected standardbred was 5,8 years, compared to 7,9 years in the rest of the horse-population. Most horses injured themselves in the paddock. But while the hind hooves were most commonly affected in standardbreds the other horses mostly fractured their front hoof coffin bones. However, if injured during training or competition PIII of front hooves had the highest fracture frequency even among standardbreds. Seven of eight horses (88%) with type II and III-fractures treated by lag screw fixation came back to full performance compared to 15 of and 32 (47%) horses that were treated with rest and therapeutic shooing only. Three of the horses that underwent surgery also had to be treated for complications, such as bone infection in the region for the screw. Including all types of P III-fractures, 61% of the standardbred horses 3 years old and older and 81% of the ones 2 years old and younger returned to performance.