Return to racing in Standardbreds after distal splint bone ostectomy
with concurrent suspensory ligament branch desmitis
Abstract
Background: Distal splint bone fractures, common in racing
Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, are often complicated by secondary
suspensory ligament branch (SLB) desmitis. These combined injuries are
known to impair post-operative performance, but contemporary data on
prognosis is limited. Objective: To evaluate the post-operative
performance of horses following distal splint bone fracture ostectomy
with concurrent SLB desmitis. Study Design: Retrospective
cohort study Methods: Clinical, demographic, and racing data
were retrospectively analyzed. Horses with a splint bone fracture and
concurrent SLB desmitis underwent standing ostectomy and were followed
for 24 months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis assessed the time to
return to racing. Pre- and post-operative performance was compared
within the surgery group and against age-, sex-, and breed-matched
controls using mixed-effects models. The effects of SLB lesion grade and
adjunctive platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy were also analyzed.
Results: Eleven horses (mean age 9 ± 1.6 years) with fractures
of the distal 1/3 of the splint bone and concurrent SLB desmitis were
included. The mean time to return to racing was 8.5 months (95% CI:
7.5–9.5). 64% (7/11) of horses raced at least three times
post-operatively. Surgery group horses raced significantly more than
controls over 24 months (mean difference: 2.2 ± 0.4; p <
0.0001). No difference was found between pre- and post-operative
performance within the surgery group (p > 0.05). Horses
with grade 1 SLB lesions raced more than those with grade 2 or 3 lesions
(p < 0.0001) and controls (p = 0.0008). Age and PRP treatment
had no significant effect. Main limitations: Relatively small
surgery population size (n = 11) and lack of conservatively treated
group for comparison Conclusion: Distal splint bone ostectomy
with concurrent SLB desmitis had a favorable prognosis in cases of less
severe SLB lesions.