Equine Fracture Treatment

Question 1

What are the fractures to immediately euthanise a horse on welfare grounds?

Answer 1

Comminuted fractures of pastern region
○ Broken in multiple places
Compound fractures of any long bone
○ Comminuted and open
Complete fractures of long bones
Pelvic fracture

Question 2

When are there exceptions to euthanising a horse with comminuted fractures of pastern?

Answer 2

Ponies under 300kg or foals

Question 3

When are there exceptions to euthanising a horse with compound fractures of long bones?

Answer 3

Ponies under 300kg or foals

Question 4

When are there exceptions to euthanising a horse with complete fractures of long bones

Answer 4

Ponies under 300kg or foals

Question 5

What is Forelimb Zone 1?

Answer 5

Distal metacarpus down to foot

Question 6

What is the goal and purpose of bandaging Forelimb Zone 1?

Answer 6

Align cortices of bone in a vertical plane
Continual line from radius, through metacarpal bone, through fetlock and digits
To get the dorsal parts into a straight line

Question 7

How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 1?

Answer 7

apply dorsal splint and bandaging - not extensive
Use PVC drainpipe and heel wedge

Question 8

What is Forelimb Zone 2?

Answer 8

Distal radius to mid-metacarpal region

Question 9

What is the goal and purpose of bandaging Forelimb Zone 2?

Answer 9

Align cortices of bones in a vertical plane
Keep carpus in full extension and stabilise metacarpal-phalangeal joint

Question 10

How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 2?

Answer 10

Apply a lateral & caudal splint
Apply a heavier bandage - Stabilise joints

Question 11

What is Forelimb Zone 3?

Answer 11

Proximal and middle radius

Question 12

What is the goal and purpose of bandaging Forelimb Zone 3?

Answer 12

Prevent abduction of the limb
Stop leg swinging sideways and destabilizing the fracture

Question 13

How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 3?

Answer 13

Full Robert jones bandage
Lateral splint to withers

Question 14

What is Forelimb Zone 4?

Answer 14

Proximal from zone 3
Scapula, humerus, ulna

Question 15

What is the goal of bandaging Forelimb Zone 4?

Answer 15

No stabilization needed
Heavy distal limb bandage would have a pendulum effect

Question 16

How do you stabilise Forelimb Zone 4?

Answer 16

Plantar splint for vertical alignment

Question 17

What is Hindlimb Zone 1?

Answer 17

Same as Forelimb
Distal metacarpus down to foot
Proximal phalangeal bones (P1,P2)

Question 18

What is the goal of bandaging Hindlimb Zone 1?

Answer 18

Same as Forelimb
Align cortices of bone in a vertical plane
Continual line from radius, through metacarpal bone, through fetlock and digits
To get the dorsal parts into a straight line

Question 19

How do you stabilise Hindlimb Zone 1?

Answer 19

Same as Forelimb
Apply dorsal splint and bandaging
Not too extensive bandaging
Use PVC drainpipe and heel wedge or commercial splint

Question 20

What is Hindlimb Zone 2?

Answer 20

Not as proximally as forelimb due to hock
Middle and proximal metatarsal regions

Question 21

What is the goal of bandaging Hindlimb Zone 2?

Answer 21

Same as Forelimb
Align cortices of bones in a vertical plane
Keep carpus in full extension and stabilise metacarpal-phalangeal joint

Question 22

How do you stabilise Hindlimb Zone 2?

Answer 22

Thick heavy bandage
Difficult to immobilise hock due to reciprocal apparatus
Plantar splint for stabilization
Possible lateral splint as well

Question 23

What is Hindlimb Zone 3?

Answer 23

Tibial fractures
Complicated to manage
Lots of muscle in this area - can easily become opened
Poor prognosis

Question 24

What is the goal of bandaging Hindlimb Zone 3?

Answer 24

Preventing abduction
Stop leg swinging sideways and destabilising fracture

Question 25

How do you stabilise Hindlimb Zone 3?

Answer 25

○ Long lateral splint
Reciprocal apparatus means flexion of stifle = flexion of hock
Leading to collapse of tibial fracture

Question 26

Where do you splint for each region?

Answer 26

1 -
2 -
3 -
4 - Forelimb only