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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2012; 25(04): 342-347
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-11-11-0164
Case Report
Schattauer GmbH

Apophyseal avulsion fracture of the greater trochanter of the femur in a Thoroughbred filly

F. Beccati
1   Ospedale Universitario Veterinario, Didattico, Dipartimento di Patologia, Diagnostica e Clinica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
,
M. Pepe
1   Ospedale Universitario Veterinario, Didattico, Dipartimento di Patologia, Diagnostica e Clinica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
,
S. Nannarone
1   Ospedale Universitario Veterinario, Didattico, Dipartimento di Patologia, Diagnostica e Clinica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
,
C. Tamantini
1   Ospedale Universitario Veterinario, Didattico, Dipartimento di Patologia, Diagnostica e Clinica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
,
R. Gialletti
1   Ospedale Universitario Veterinario, Didattico, Dipartimento di Patologia, Diagnostica e Clinica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 November 2011

Accepted 21 March 2012

Publication Date:
19 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

The case report of a 14-month-old Thoroughbred filly with acute onset of severe right hindlimb lameness is presented. The horse had a severe and sudden abduction of the hindlimbs due to a side effect of an overdose of lidocaine, which had been administered in a constant rate infusion after a colic surgery. Transcutaneus ultrasonography and standing radiography of the pelvis revealed proximal and cranial displacement of the greater trochanter and free bone fragments consistent with an apophyseal avulsion fracture of the greater trochanter. The complete diagnosis was obtained with the horse in a standing position. The filly was euthanatized because of deterioration resulting from the colic condition and of the poor prognosis of the fracture of the greater trochanter. Postmortem evaluation confirmed an apophyseal avulsion fracture of the right greater trochanter. To the authors' knowledge, ultrasonographic and radiographic findings of this fracture have not been described in the standing horse. The diagnosis was reached quite easily with the horse in a normal standing position when the characteristic ultrasonographic and radiographic findings were detected.

Keywords

Horse - femur fracture - radiography - ultrasonography - lameness
 

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