Use of tension band wires in horses with fractures of the ulna: 22 cases (1980-1992)

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 207; no. 8; p. 1085
• Main Authors: Martin, F, Richardson, D W, Nunamaker, D M, Ross, M W, Orsini, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15-10-1995
• Subjects: Anesthesia, General - veterinary; Animals; Bone Screws - veterinary; Bone Wires - veterinary; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fracture Fixation, Internal - veterinary; Fracture Healing; Horses - injuries; Horses - surgery; Lameness, Animal - etiology; Male; Radiography; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Ulna Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Ulna Fractures - surgery; Ulna Fractures - veterinary
• ISSN: 0003-1488
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1995.207.08.1085

Twenty-two horses with ulnar fractures were treated, using tension band wires alone or tension band wires in combination with pins or cortical bone screws. Age of the horses ranged from 2 weeks to 12 years (median, 4 months), and body weight ranged from 68 to 477 kg (median, 181 kg). Fractures were classified according to the Donecker and Bramlage ulnar fracture classification and included type 1-a (4 horses), type 1-b (4), type-2 (6), type-3 (1), type-4 (3), and type-5 (4), fractures. Tension band wires alone were used in 7 horses. Tension band wires were used in conjunction with unthreaded pins in 10 horses. In 3 horses, 5.5-mm cortical bone screws were inserted longitudinally instead of pins. A combination of a 5.5-mm cortical bone screw and a pin was used in 2 horses. In addition to pins and tension band wires, 4.5-mm cortical bone screws were placed in lag fashion to aid reduction of comminuted or oblique fractures in 7 of the 22 horses. Fractures healed in 18 (82%) horses. Four horses were euthanatized because of complications that included catastrophic failure of fixation during recovery from general anesthesia in 1 foal, septic arthritis and hyperextension of the contralateral metacarpophalangeal joint in 1 foal, and wound infection with partial disruption of repair in 2 horses. Nonfatal complications developed in 6 horses and included incision infection, partial wound dehiscence, carpal contraction, carpus varus of the contralateral forelimb, slight distraction of proximal fragments of the fractures, bent implants, and distal migration of pins. Long-term monitoring was performed on 17 horses.