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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2019; 32(04): 282-288
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1683368
Original Research
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Risk of a Shod and Unshod Horse Kick to Create Orbital Fractures in Equine Cadaveric Skulls

Rahel Joss
1   Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Fabio Baschnagel
2   Mechanical Systems Engineering Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
,
Stefani Ohlerth
3   Section of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Gabor Piskoty
2   Mechanical Systems Engineering Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
,
Anton Fürst
1   Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Andrea S. Bischofberger 
1   Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
Further Information

Publication History

07 May 2018

15 January 2019

Publication Date:
18 March 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the potential of an unshod and shod hoof to cause an orbital fracture in the event of a kick.

Materials and Methods Thirty-four equine cadaveric orbitae were exposed to a steel or horn impactor in a dropping test set-up. An impactor velocity of 7 m/s was used for both materials. Testing was repeated on the same orbit at a velocity of 10 m/s with the horn impactor if no damage occurred. A high-speed camera was used to analyse the impact process. Physical parameters (peak force and impact duration) were calculated based on quantitative video-tracking. Computed tomographic (CT) scans were generated and fracture configurations described.

Results At 7 m/s, the fracture probability was lower for horn (23.5%) than for steel impactors (70.6%, p = 0.015). On CT-images, damage of the frontal, temporal, zygomatic and lacrimal bones was detected. Furthermore, the orbital socket (17.2%), the supraorbital foramen (34.5%) and the temporomandibular joint (58.6%) were involved. The frequency of affected orbital bones was not significantly different between fractures generated by steel and horn impactors, but the fracture severity was subjectively greater when fractures were generated by steel impactors.

Clinical Significance The orbital fracture probability was significantly higher when a kick of a shod versus unshod horse was simulated. This indicates that keeping horses unshod would decrease the injury risk of neighbouring horses when considering group housing systems.

Keywords

horse kick - computed tomography - shoeing material - temporomandibular joint - orbital fracture

Author Contribution

Rahel Joss, Fabio Baschnagel, Stefani Ohlerth and Andrea S. Bischofberger contributed to conception of study, study design, acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Gabor Piskoty and Anton Fürst contributed to conception of study, study design, and data analysis and interpretation. All authors drafted, revised and approved the submitted manuscript.


 

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