Survival and racing performance after surgical treatment of rib fractures in foals

• Published in: Veterinary surgery Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 62 - 67
• Main Authors: Velloso Álvarez, Ana, Sandow, Cole B., Rodgerson, Dwayne H., Spirito, Michael A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2022; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Fractures; Horse Diseases - surgery; Horses; Juveniles; Male; Medical prognosis; Medical records; Morbidity; Neonates; Racing; Racing performance; Retrospective Studies; Rib Fractures - surgery; Rib Fractures - veterinary; Ribs; Sex; Siblings; Surgical techniques; Survival; Thorax
• ISSN: 0161-3499; 1532-950X
• DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13701

Objective To evaluate the short and long‐term outcomes of foals treated surgically for fractured ribs and variables that may affect outcome. Study design Retrospective. Animals Seventy‐three equine neonates with surgically repaired fractured ribs. Methods Medical records were reviewed to include sex, breed, the side of thorax affected, number of ribs fractured, co‐morbidities directly associated with rib fracture, and surgical technique used. Short‐term outcome was defined as survival to discharge. Long‐term outcome was whether or not they started a race. Race records of maternal siblings were obtained for comparison. Results Seventy‐three neonates underwent surgery for fractured ribs. Fifty‐seven neonates (78%) survived to discharge from the hospital. Rib fractures were more commonly observed in colts and in the left hemithorax (61% and 57%, respectively). Sex, side affected, number of ribs fractured, co‐morbidities, number of ribs repaired, and surgical technique did not affect the short‐ or long‐term outcomes. Thirty‐five of 57 (61%) foals treated surgically for rib fractures that survived to discharge started a race compared to 173 of 257 (67%) of maternal siblings that raced. Conclusions Short‐ and long‐term outcome were not affected by co‐morbidities, surgical technique, or number of fractured ribs. Clinical significance Neonates with surgically repaired fractured ribs had a good prognosis for survival and and those that survived had a similar chances of starting a race compared to maternal siblings.