EQUINE | Abstracts
Epidemiology of Fractures: The
Role of Kick Injuries in Equine
Fractures
B. Donati A. E. Fürst M. Hässig M. A. Jackson
Background
Fractures occur commonly in equids and often are
associated with complications and a poor outcome.
There are no reports on the epidemiology of fractures
in a heterogeneous equine population.
Objectives
To study the epidemiology of fractures in a
heterogeneous equine population, focusing on
differences between fractures resulting from a kick and
fractures, resulting from other causes and investigating
predictors for recovery.
Study design
Retrospective case series.
Methods
Data of all equids presented to the Equine Department,
Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich between 1990
and 2014 and diagnosed with a fracture were reviewed
and those with a known cause were included in this
study. Mann–Whitney and chi‐squared tests were used
to compare recovery rates of fractures resulting from
a kick and fractures resulting from other causes, and
a logistic regression was carried out for multivariate
analysis of the most important factors affecting
recovery.
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Results
Here, 1144 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of
all fractures (with a known cause), 43.6% were
the result of a kick from another equid. Kicks often
produced open fractures (44.7%) that involved bones
of the limbs (85.6%). Overall recovery was 70.1%.
Logistic regression showed that high‐grade lameness
accompanying the fracture and severe comminution
negatively affected recovery.
Main limitations
The equids in this study were drawn from a referred
population, which likely precluded the inclusion of
both minor fractures and catastrophic fractures that
necessitated immediate euthanasia. Moreover, many
cases were excluded because the cause of the fracture
could not be determined from the patient record.
Conclusions
Kicks are the most common cause of fractures in a
heterogeneous equine population and measures to
reduce the incidence of kicks are necessary in group‐
housing systems.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.12819
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