CONDYLAR FRACTURES ISSUE 41_Jerkins feature.qxd 08/03/2013 00:25 Page 1
VETERINARY
LATERAL CONDYLAR FRACTURES
Preventative measures using MRI scanning Lateral condylar fracture, a specific type of cannon bone fracture, is a common and potentially devastating racing injury that ended the racing careers of Mill Reef, Manduro, Dubai Millennium, and many others. A recent research study funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) and published in the Equine Veterinary Journal has shown that the microdamage that occurs in the cannon bone prior to fracture can be detected using MRI before fracture occurs. WORDS: Celia M MaRR PHOTOS: SaRaH POWell, ROSSDaleS equine HOSPiTal, DiagnOSTiC CenTRe, neWMaRkeT
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HIS important study which builds on a programme of orthopaedic research developed by the HBLB over the last two decades has provided much needed evidence to underpin the interpretation of MRI images and may help trainers identify horses at risk before a full fracture occurs.
The HBLB’s Liverpool bone and fracture studies One of the Horserace Betting Levy Board’s five key strategic research priorities is to improve methods of identification, management, and prevention of musculoskeletal disease and injury in racehorses. The HBLB has recently launched website at rachorsehealth.hblb.org.uk to provide trainers with up-to-date information on their wide-ranging research on Thoroughbred health and disease. Although
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research on equine veterinary science is conducted in numerous centres across the globe, a substantial amount of the information about racing injuries has been collected in the UK as a direct result of research funding from the HBLB. Data on racecourse fatalities has been collected in the UK since the 1970s. Musculoskeletal injuries, in particular bone fractures, are the leading causes of racecourse death. To better understand the causes of these injuries, two large consecutive studies were performed at the University of Liverpool between 1998 and 2003 investigating risk factors for fatal distal limb fractures during racing. This involved incredible logistical challenges and the cooperation of large numbers of racecourse vets and staff together with trainers and owners. But it proved to be an extremely worthwhile collaborative effort leading to
invaluable conclusions on the causes and prevention of racing injuries. The researchers identified all cases of fractures occurring at UK racecourses in this period and collected bone samples from both the affected and unaffected opposite limbs for further analysis. The studies not only provided a wealth of information on racing injures at the time but also an archive of specimens was created and is still being used for cutting edge research today.
Which fractures are most common? Flat turf racing is the safest with an estimated 0.4 fatal fractures for every 1,000 starts while National Hunt Flat racing has been associated with the highest risk for fatal fracture at a rate of 2.2 per 1,000 starts. Lateral condylar fracture is the most common type overall, accounting for 45% of all fatal limb fractures in the UK and this is the most