Arthroscopic guided repair of a slab fracture of the fourth carpal bone in an 8-month-old thoroughbred horse.

Abstract

An 8-month-old thoroughbred colt presented with sudden onset right forelimb lameness. A radiographic series of the right carpus was performed, and it revealed a slab fracture of the fourth carpal bone and fracture of the proximal part of the third metacarpal bone. Arthroscopically guided repair of the slab fracture of the fourth carpal bone with a 3.5 mm cortex screw and lag screw fixation of the fracture of the proximal part of the third metacarpal bone were performed. The horse started to race at 32 months old and started in 65 races over three years without any trouble associated with the right carpus.