What is osteostixis?

Certain fracture configurations tend not to heal even with many months of rest, and surgery is indicated for horses with these lesions. One surgical option, called osteostixis, involves drilled a pre-determined number of holes through the affected section of cortical bone into the medullary cavity.

In what three breeds are bucked shins most commonly seen?

The breeds most often affected by bucked shins are Quarter horses, Standardbreds, and Thoroughbreds.

Can a horse survive a broken cannon bone?

“Amazingly, horses tolerate it really well, and it is very convenient for medial condylar fractures. In these cases, the fracture can spiral all the way up through the cannon bone, and they have a tendency to develop complete catastrophic fractures that can happen at any time after the injury.

Do splints in horses go away?

This is the splint, which will reduce in size over time, but is unlikely to disappear. The new bone stabilises the source of irritation by forming a bridge between the digits. These splints occur most typically on the inside of the forelimb, or on the outside of the hind limb in young, immature horses in work.

What is a saucer fracture?

Fractures producing a bone fragment with a saucer shape are referred to as saucer fractures such a fracture commonly originates from the midshaft of long bones such as the equine metacarpal / tarsal bones following direct trauma.

Why are horses euthanized after breaking a leg?

Horses need to put some weight on their injured leg to ensure it recovers the necessary strength to support itself. If a horse can’t move around and use its other legs, laminitis or abscesses may develop, When this occurs the horse will have to be euthanized.

What do horse splints look like?

Splints in horses are hard lumps, which are actually bony enlargements found on the side of the horse’s leg between the knee and the fetlock joint, located where the splint bone runs down on either side of the cannon bone.