One aspect on the Barbaro breakdown that has drawn almost no attention is the fact that he broke down in the rear. That strikes me as an extrremely rare occurrence; all of the breakdowns I can immediately remember were front breakdowns. Are there any vets out there or anyone who has specialized experience who could comment on whether this was in fact a very unusual breakdown, particularly so early in a race?
I\'ve seen far too many horses breakdown and seen them do a great many crazy things (e.g. run into the concrete retaining wall at crc because it refused to turn into the stretch; jump into the infield lake at Hia just a couple of strides from winning a turf race), but I have never seen a horse breakdown behind. Very odd.
Funfair broke down behind in the BC last October.
Caveat - not a practicing equine vet. Horses carry more weight on the forehand than rear. Brief lit search found a couple of interesting things, apologize in advance TGJB if too long or inappropriate to board content or current discussion:
Characterisation of the type and location of fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal condyles in 135 horses in central Kentucky (1986- 1994).
Equine Vet J 31[4]:304-8 1999 Jul - Zekas LJ, Bramlage LR, Embertson RM, Hance SR Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky 40580-2070, USA.
The objective of this retrospective study was to provide a detailed description of the characteristics of condylar fractures represented in a population of 135 horses who sustained 145 fractures. Records and radiographic studies were examined. Fifty-nine percent of the horses were male and the majority Thoroughbreds. The distribution of fractures was 37% incomplete-nondisplaced, 30% complete-nondisplaced and 32% complete-displaced. *** The right front was more likely to sustain a complete-displaced fracture, whereas the left front was more likely to sustain an incomplete-nondisplaced fracture. Forelimbs (81%) and lateral condyles (85%) were more likely to be involved. Contrary to previous studies, the right forelimb was slightly more often involved than the left. Fractures tended to involve the middle portion of the condyle (59%). The mean length of all fractures was 75+/-3.8 mm. Axial fractures and medial condyle fractures tended to be longer. Fifteen percent of the fractures had definitive articular comminution. Ninety- five percent of fractures with articular comminution were associated with complete fractures. When fractures entered the middle area of the condyle, 23% had articular comminution. Eight of the fractures spiralled, all involved forelimbs. Concurrent lesions included proximal phalanx chip fractures, sesamoid fractures, sesamoiditis, proximal phalanx fractures, \'splint\' bone periostitis and ligamentous injuries. The complete description of the fractures in this group of horses allows us better to define the condylar fracture, compare these fractures to previous studies and establish new data for use in defining prognosis.
High-speed exercise history and catastrophic racing fracture in thoroughbreds.
Am J Vet Res 57[11]:1549-55 1996 Nov Estberg L ; Stover SM ; Gardner IA ; Drake CM ; Johnson B ; Ardans A OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between several racing speed history characteristics and risk of fatal skeletal injury (FSI) in racing Thoroughbreds. ANIMALS: 64 Thoroughbreds euthanatized during a 9-month period in 1991 at a California racemeet because of a catastrophic fracture incurred while racing (cases), identified retrospectively. For each race in which an FSI occurred, 1 control horse was randomly selected from the noncatastrophically injured participants. PROCEDURE: Racing and officially timed workout histories were obtained for each horse. Several history characteristics were calculated to summarize racing career patterns and high-speed exercise schedules prior to date of injury and included age at first race, proportion of career spent laid up, average duration of laid up periods, average lifetime racing frequency, time from last lay up to date of injury, and total and rate of distance accumulated 1 to 6 months prior to date of injury. History characteristics associated with FSI were screened by paired t-test and studied in detail, using conditional logistic regression. *** RESULTS: High total and high average daily rates of exercise distance accumulation within a 2-month period were associated with higher risks for FSI during racing, yet career patterns, such as age at first race or total proportion of career spent laid up, were not found to be associated with risk for FSI. A horse that had accumulated a total of 35 furlongs of race and timed-work distance in 2 months, compared with a horse with 25 furlongs accumulated, had an estimated 3.9-fold increase in risk for racing-related FSI (95% confidence interval = 2.1, 7.1). A horse that had accumulated race and timed-work furlongs at an average rate of 0.6 furlong/d within a 2-month period, compared with a horse with an average of 0.5 furlong/d, had an estimated 1.8-fold increase in risk for racing-related FSI (95% confidence interval = 1.4, 2.6). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thoroughbred racehorses that either accumulate large total high-speed distances or rapidly accumulate high-speed distances within a 2-month period may be at increased risk for FSI during racing.
Horseshoe characteristics as possible risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury of thoroughbred racehorses. Am J Vet Res 57[8]:1147-52 1996 Aug Kane AJ ; Stover SM ; Gardner IA ; Case JT ; Johnson BJ ; Read DH ; Ardans AA OBJECTIVE: To evaluate selected shoe characteristics as risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury (FMI) and specifically for suspensory apparatus failure (SAF) and cannon bone condylar fracture (CDY) of Thoroughbred racehorses in California. DESIGN: Case-control study. ANIMALS: Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 201) that died of were euthanatized at California racetracks between August 1992 and July 1994. PROCEDURE: Shoe characteristics were compared between case horses affected by FMI (155), SAF (79), and CDY (41) and control horses that died for reasons unrelated to the appendicular musculoskeletal system (non-FMI; 46). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for FMI, SAF, and CDY. RESULTS: Toe grabs were identified as possible risk factors for FMI, SAF, and CDY. The odds of FMI, SAF, and CDY were 1.8, 6.5, and 7.0, respectively, times greater for horses shod with low toe grabs than for horses shod without toe grabs on front shoes. Horses shod with regular toe grabs on front shoes had odds 3.5, 15.6, and 17.1 times greater (P < 0.05) for FMI, SAF, and CDY, respectively, compared with horses shod without toe grabs. The odds of horses shod with rim shoes were a third (P < 0.05) of those shod without rim shoes for either FMI or SAF. The apparent association between toe grab type and CDY may, in part, be attributable to concurrent SAF and CDY injuries in many horses. *** CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Avoiding the use of toe grabs should decrease the incidence of FMI, especially SAF, in Thoroughbred racehorses. The use of rim shoes that are more consistent with natural hoof shape may decrease injury risk.
Sight-- too busy to read in detail, but 2 things jumped out-- the difference just between 35 and 25 furlongs of races and works in the previous 2 months (3.9 times as likely to break down), and the shocking increase with cleats.
Great work.
Truly amazing stuff - any more ? - I\'m mulling over a theory that Barbaro managed to exaserbate a borderline or pre- condition by having his footwork in back wrong when he broke through thus putting undue stress and the brunt of the energy force then on a foot that was perhaps pointing the wrong way .
If Barbaro\'s footwork was in fact wrong when he broke through , it could be a compelling factor , along w/ short rest .
gatodelsol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I\'ve seen far too many horses breakdown and seen
> them do a great many crazy things (e.g. run into
> the concrete retaining wall at crc because it
> refused to turn into the stretch; jump into the
> infield lake at Hia just a couple of strides from
> winning a turf race), but I have never seen a
> horse breakdown behind. Very odd.
Not sure it matters much which leg a horse breaks and could be mistaken, but Izvestia may have broken down in a rear ankle also.
It was his rear. Heres the story:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE3D91438F932A15753C1A967958260
The horse leg is a fascinating display of integrated biomechanics. Certainly there\'s ample evidence that some condylar fractures are the final culmination of previous small, cumulative microfractures. Failure of one small component leads to disaster of the whole. Barbaro\'s bones didn\'t all shatter in one stride.
In the end, the only people able to knowledgably search their hearts about a possible prior warning of a problem would be the man that rode the horse daily and felt every movement and breath, and the trainer who afterwards ran his hands over every tendon and joint. Matz has been the man on the back of 1100 pounds landing on one coffin bone after clearing a 6-foot wide oxer.
We\'re armchair quarterbacks that can emotionally walk away. They are the only folks having to bear forever the \"what if?\" self-doubts. My heart goes out to them for that.
Scanning electron microscopic examination of third metacarpal/third metatarsal bone failure surfaces in thoroughbred racehorses with condylar fracture.
Vet Surg 33[1]:2-10 2004 Jan-Feb Stepnik MW, Radtke CL, Scollay MC, Oshel PE, Albrecht RM, Santschi EM, Markel MD, Muir P
Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
OBJECTIVE : To examine the fracture failure surfaces from Thoroughbred horses that had sustained a catastrophic condylar fracture. SAMPLE POPULATION : Bone specimens from the failure surface were obtained from 12 Thoroughbred racehorses with catastrophic injury and 2 non-racing horses with accidental long bone fracture. METHODS : Bone specimens from the failure surface of each fracture were incubated with gold microspheres to label microcracks before examination at x50 to x60,000 using scanning electron microscopy. Microcracking at the failure surface was assessed using a visual analog scale. RESULTS : Branching arrays or clusters of microcracks were seen over a range of magnifications in adapted subchondral bone in the distal end of the MC3/MT3 bone from racing Thoroughbreds with a catastrophic displaced condylar fracture. In the palmar/plantar region, microcracking was associated with the formation of an array of macroscopic cracks in the condylar groove. A different pattern of microcracking was seen in specimens of bone from distal metaphyseal and diaphyseal MC3/MT3 failure surfaces from Thoroughbred racehorses with catastrophic fracture and non-racing horses with an accidental diaphyseal long bone fracture. Few microcracks were seen and typically did not form branching arrays. *** CONCLUSION : These data suggest that propagation of condylar fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses is initiated by the formation of nanoscale microcracks in adapted subchondral bone that form during exercise-induced bone adaptation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE : Accumulation and coalescence of branching microcracks into arrays or clusters appears to eventually lead to the development of macroscopic subchondral cracks in the condylar groove and initiation of a condylar fracture.
Macroscopic changes in the distal ends of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones of Thoroughbred racehorses with condylar fractures.
Am J Vet Res 64[9]:1110-6 2003 Sep Radtke CL, Danova NA, Scollay MC, Santschi EM, Markel MD, Da Costa Gomez T, Muir P
Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA. OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in the distal ends of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones (MCIII and MTIII) of Thoroughbred racehorses that had sustained a catastrophic condylar fracture during high-speed exercise. SAMPLE POPULATION: Fractured and contralateral MCIIIs and MTIIIs from 11 Thoroughbred racehorses that sustained a displaced condylar fracture during racing, both MCIIIs from 5 Thoroughbred racehorses euthanized because of a catastrophic injury other than a condylar fracture, and both MCIIIs from 5 horses of other breeds that had not been professionally trained or raced. PROCEDURE: Macroscopic observations were made of the distal ends of the bones before and after digestion of the articular cartilage with NaOH. RESULTS: In all 11 racehorses with a displaced condylar fracture, the fracture was associated with a branching array of cracks in the condylar groove. In this region, fracture margins were smooth, and there was loss of subchondral bone. Comminution of the dorsal cortex was also seen. Parasagittal linear wear lines in the articular cartilage, erosions in the articular cartilage of the condyles, loss of the underlying subchondral bone, and cracking of condylar grooves were all more severe in the Thoroughbred racehorses than in the horses that had not been professionally trained or raced. ***CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that condylar fractures in horses are pathologic fatigue or stress fractures that arise from a preexisting, branching array of cracks in the condylar groove of the distal end of MCIII or MTIII.
Biomechanical investigation of the association between suspensory ligament injury and lateral condylar fracture in thoroughbred racehorses.
Vet Surg 32[6]:585-97 2003 Nov-Dec Le Jeune SS, Macdonald MH, Stover SM, Taylor KT, Gerdes M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Objective-To determine whether partial transection of the medial branch of the suspensory ligament (MBSL) alters equine third metacarpal bone (MC3) condylar surface strains and forelimb, distal joint angles in a manner consistent with promotion of lateral condylar fracture. Study Design-In vitro biomechanical experiment. Sample Population-Right forelimbs from 7 Thoroughbred horse cadavers. Methods-Lateral and medial MC3 condylar, dorsal and abaxial, bone surface strains and distal joint angles were measured both before and after partial transection of the MBSL during in vitro axial limb compression. Dorsal, principal bone strains and abaxial, uniaxial, and proximodistal strains were compared before and after MBSL partial transection at 1,400-, 3,000-, and 5,600-N loads. Results-Bone strains increased in all locations with increasing axial load. All lateral condylar bone strains were significantly higher, and abaxial surface medial condylar bone strain was significantly lower, after partial transection of the MBSL. Respective distal joints became more flexed or extended as axial load increased but were not significantly different after partial transection of the MBSL. Conclusions-Partial transection of the MBSL increases in vitro MC3 lateral condylar bone surface strains. ***Clinical Relevance-Loss of integrity of the medial branch of the suspensory ligament could increase the risk for lateral condylar fracture in Thoroughbred horses by amplifying bone strain in the lateral condyle.
Thats what i\'ve been saying, no one has seemed to care what shoes Barbaro was wearing in the Derby and if he changed shoes for the preakness. Maybe the bend shoes he wore in the derby \'dinged him up\' and he didn\'t wear the same shoes at pimlico.
at least the pimlico tv\'s didn\'t list which horses had bends and which did not.
HERE\'S THOSE FASCINATING STUDIES SIGHTSOUND THOUGHFULLY POSTED PT 1 OF 2 :
sighthound Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Caveat - not a practicing equine vet. Horses
> carry more weight on the forehand than rear.
> Brief lit search found a couple of interesting
> things, apologize in advance TGJB if too long or
> inappropriate to board content or current
> discussion:
>
> Characterisation of the type and location of
> fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal
> condyles in 135 horses in central Kentucky (1986-
> 1994).
> Equine Vet J 31[4]:304-8 1999 Jul - Zekas LJ,
> Bramlage LR, Embertson RM, Hance SR Rood and
> Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky
> 40580-2070, USA.
> The objective of this retrospective study was to
> provide a detailed description of the
> characteristics of condylar fractures represented
> in a population of 135 horses who sustained 145
> fractures. Records and radiographic studies were
> examined. Fifty-nine percent of the horses were
> male and the majority Thoroughbreds. The
> distribution of fractures was 37%
> incomplete-nondisplaced, 30% complete-nondisplaced
> and 32% complete-displaced. *** The right front
> was more likely to sustain a complete-displaced
> fracture, whereas the left front was more likely
> to sustain an incomplete-nondisplaced fracture.
> Forelimbs (81%) and lateral condyles (85%) were
> more likely to be involved. Contrary to previous
> studies, the right forelimb was slightly more
> often involved than the left. Fractures tended to
> involve the middle portion of the condyle (59%).
> The mean length of all fractures was 75+/-3.8 mm.
> Axial fractures and medial condyle fractures
> tended to be longer. Fifteen percent of the
> fractures had definitive articular comminution.
> Ninety- five percent of fractures with articular
> comminution were associated with complete
> fractures. When fractures entered the middle area
> of the condyle, 23% had articular comminution.
> Eight of the fractures spiralled, all involved
> forelimbs. Concurrent lesions included proximal
> phalanx chip fractures, sesamoid fractures,
> sesamoiditis, proximal phalanx fractures, \'splint\'
> bone periostitis and ligamentous injuries. The
> complete description of the fractures in this
> group of horses allows us better to define the
> condylar fracture, compare these fractures to
> previous studies and establish new data for use in
> defining prognosis.
>
> High-speed exercise history and catastrophic
> racing fracture in thoroughbreds.
> Am J Vet Res 57[11]:1549-55 1996 Nov Estberg L ;
> Stover SM ; Gardner IA ; Drake CM ; Johnson B ;
> Ardans A OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation
> between several racing speed history
> characteristics and risk of fatal skeletal injury
> (FSI) in racing Thoroughbreds. ANIMALS: 64
> Thoroughbreds euthanatized during a 9-month period
> in 1991 at a California racemeet because of a
> catastrophic fracture incurred while racing
> (cases), identified retrospectively. For each race
> in which an FSI occurred, 1 control horse was
> randomly selected from the noncatastrophically
> injured participants. PROCEDURE: Racing and
> officially timed workout histories were obtained
> for each horse. Several history characteristics
> were calculated to summarize racing career
> patterns and high-speed exercise schedules prior
> to date of injury and included age at first race,
> proportion of career spent laid up, average
> duration of laid up periods, average lifetime
> racing frequency, time from last lay up to date of
> injury, and total and rate of distance accumulated
> 1 to 6 months prior to date of injury. History
> characteristics associated with FSI were screened
> by paired t-test and studied in detail, using
> conditional logistic regression. *** RESULTS:
> High total and high average daily rates of
> exercise distance accumulation within a 2-month
> period were associated with higher risks for FSI
> during racing, yet career patterns, such as age at
> first race or total proportion of career spent
> laid up, were not found to be associated with risk
> for FSI. A horse that had accumulated a total of
> 35 furlongs of race and timed-work distance in 2
> months, compared with a horse with 25 furlongs
> accumulated, had an estimated 3.9-fold increase in
> risk for racing-related FSI (95% confidence
> interval = 2.1, 7.1). A horse that had accumulated
> race and timed-work furlongs at an average rate of
> 0.6 furlong/d within a 2-month period, compared
> with a horse with an average of 0.5 furlong/d, had
> an estimated 1.8-fold increase in risk for
> racing-related FSI (95% confidence interval = 1.4,
> 2.6). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
> Thoroughbred racehorses that either accumulate
> large total high-speed distances or rapidly
> accumulate high-speed distances within a 2-month
> period may be at increased risk for FSI during
> racing.
>
> Horseshoe characteristics as possible risk factors
> for fatal musculoskeletal injury of thoroughbred
> racehorses. Am J Vet Res 57[8]:1147-52 1996 Aug
> Kane AJ ; Stover SM ; Gardner IA ; Case JT ;
> Johnson BJ ; Read DH ; Ardans AA OBJECTIVE: To
> evaluate selected shoe characteristics as risk
> factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury (FMI) and
> specifically for suspensory apparatus failure
> (SAF) and cannon bone condylar fracture (CDY) of
> Thoroughbred racehorses in California. DESIGN:
> Case-control study. ANIMALS: Thoroughbred
> racehorses (n = 201) that died of were
> euthanatized at California racetracks between
> August 1992 and July 1994. PROCEDURE: Shoe
> characteristics were compared between case horses
> affected by FMI (155), SAF (79), and CDY (41) and
> control horses that died for reasons unrelated to
> the appendicular musculoskeletal system (non-FMI;
> 46). Multivariable logistic regression was used to
> estimate odds ratios for FMI, SAF, and CDY.
> RESULTS: Toe grabs were identified as possible
> risk factors for FMI, SAF, and CDY. The odds of
> FMI, SAF, and CDY were 1.8, 6.5, and 7.0,
> respectively, times greater for horses shod with
> low toe grabs than for horses shod without toe
> grabs on front shoes. Horses shod with regular toe
> grabs on front shoes had odds 3.5, 15.6, and 17.1
> times greater (P < 0.05) for FMI, SAF, and CDY,
> respectively, compared with horses shod without
> toe grabs. The odds of horses shod with rim shoes
> were a third (P < 0.05) of those shod without
> rim shoes for either FMI or SAF. The apparent
> association between toe grab type and CDY may, in
> part, be attributable to concurrent SAF and CDY
> injuries in many horses. *** CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
> Avoiding the use of toe grabs should decrease the
> incidence of FMI, especially SAF, in Thoroughbred
> racehorses. The use of rim shoes that are more
> consistent with natural hoof shape may decrease
> injury risk.
PT 2 OF SIGHTSOUND RE-POST ( along w/ subsequent threard )
sighthound Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The horse leg is a fascinating display of
> integrated biomechanics. Certainly there\'s ample
> evidence that some condylar fractures are the
> final culmination of previous small, cumulative
> microfractures. Failure of one small component
> leads to disaster of the whole. Barbaro\'s bones
> didn\'t all shatter in one stride.
>
> In the end, the only people able to knowledgably
> search their hearts about a possible prior warning
> of a problem would be the man that rode the horse
> daily and felt every movement and breath, and the
> trainer who afterwards ran his hands over every
> tendon and joint. Matz has been the man on the
> back of 1100 pounds landing on one coffin bone
> after clearing a 6-foot wide oxer.
>
> We\'re armchair quarterbacks that can
> emotionally walk away. They are the only folks
> having to bear forever the \"what if?\" self-doubts.
> My heart goes out to them for that.
>
> Scanning electron microscopic examination of third
> metacarpal/third metatarsal bone failure surfaces
> in thoroughbred racehorses with condylar
> fracture.
> Vet Surg 33[1]:2-10 2004 Jan-Feb Stepnik MW,
> Radtke CL, Scollay MC, Oshel PE, Albrecht RM,
> Santschi EM, Markel MD, Muir P
> Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory,
> School of Veterinary Medicine, University of
> Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
> OBJECTIVE : To examine the fracture failure
> surfaces from Thoroughbred horses that had
> sustained a catastrophic condylar fracture. SAMPLE
> POPULATION : Bone specimens from the failure
> surface were obtained from 12 Thoroughbred
> racehorses with catastrophic injury and 2
> non-racing horses with accidental long bone
> fracture. METHODS : Bone specimens from the
> failure surface of each fracture were incubated
> with gold microspheres to label microcracks before
> examination at x50 to x60,000 using scanning
> electron microscopy. Microcracking at the failure
> surface was assessed using a visual analog scale.
> RESULTS : Branching arrays or clusters of
> microcracks were seen over a range of
> magnifications in adapted subchondral bone in the
> distal end of the MC3/MT3 bone from racing
> Thoroughbreds with a catastrophic displaced
> condylar fracture. In the palmar/plantar region,
> microcracking was associated with the formation of
> an array of macroscopic cracks in the condylar
> groove. A different pattern of microcracking was
> seen in specimens of bone from distal metaphyseal
> and diaphyseal MC3/MT3 failure surfaces from
> Thoroughbred racehorses with catastrophic fracture
> and non-racing horses with an accidental
> diaphyseal long bone fracture. Few microcracks
> were seen and typically did not form branching
> arrays. *** CONCLUSION : These data suggest that
> propagation of condylar fracture in Thoroughbred
> racehorses is initiated by the formation of
> nanoscale microcracks in adapted subchondral bone
> that form during exercise-induced bone adaptation.
> CLINICAL RELEVANCE : Accumulation and coalescence
> of branching microcracks into arrays or clusters
> appears to eventually lead to the development of
> macroscopic subchondral cracks in the condylar
> groove and initiation of a condylar fracture.
>
> Macroscopic changes in the distal ends of the
> third metacarpal and metatarsal bones of
> Thoroughbred racehorses with condylar fractures.
> Am J Vet Res 64[9]:1110-6 2003 Sep Radtke CL,
> Danova NA, Scollay MC, Santschi EM, Markel MD, Da
> Costa Gomez T, Muir P
> Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory,
> Department of Surgical Sciences, School of
> Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin,
> Madison, WI 53706, USA. OBJECTIVE: To determine
> changes in the distal ends of the third metacarpal
> and metatarsal bones (MCIII and MTIII) of
> Thoroughbred racehorses that had sustained a
> catastrophic condylar fracture during high-speed
> exercise. SAMPLE POPULATION: Fractured and
> contralateral MCIIIs and MTIIIs from 11
> Thoroughbred racehorses that sustained a displaced
> condylar fracture during racing, both MCIIIs from
> 5 Thoroughbred racehorses euthanized because of a
> catastrophic injury other than a condylar
> fracture, and both MCIIIs from 5 horses of other
> breeds that had not been professionally trained or
> raced. PROCEDURE: Macroscopic observations were
> made of the distal ends of the bones before and
> after digestion of the articular cartilage with
> NaOH. RESULTS: In all 11 racehorses with a
> displaced condylar fracture, the fracture was
> associated with a branching array of cracks in the
> condylar groove. In this region, fracture margins
> were smooth, and there was loss of subchondral
> bone. Comminution of the dorsal cortex was also
> seen. Parasagittal linear wear lines in the
> articular cartilage, erosions in the articular
> cartilage of the condyles, loss of the underlying
> subchondral bone, and cracking of condylar grooves
> were all more severe in the Thoroughbred
> racehorses than in the horses that had not been
> professionally trained or raced. ***CONCLUSIONS
> AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that
> condylar fractures in horses are pathologic
> fatigue or stress fractures that arise from a
> preexisting, branching array of cracks in the
> condylar groove of the distal end of MCIII or
> MTIII.
>
> Biomechanical investigation of the association
> between suspensory ligament injury and lateral
> condylar fracture in thoroughbred racehorses.
> Vet Surg 32[6]:585-97 2003 Nov-Dec Le Jeune SS,
> Macdonald MH, Stover SM, Taylor KT, Gerdes M
> Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Department
> of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of
> Veterinary Medicine, University of California,
> Davis, CA 95616, USA. Objective-To determine
> whether partial transection of the medial branch
> of the suspensory ligament (MBSL) alters equine
> third metacarpal bone (MC3) condylar surface
> strains and forelimb, distal joint angles in a
> manner consistent with promotion of lateral
> condylar fracture. Study Design-In vitro
> biomechanical experiment. Sample Population-Right
> forelimbs from 7 Thoroughbred horse cadavers.
> Methods-Lateral and medial MC3 condylar, dorsal
> and abaxial, bone surface strains and distal joint
> angles were measured both before and after partial
> transection of the MBSL during in vitro axial limb
> compression. Dorsal, principal bone strains and
> abaxial, uniaxial, and proximodistal strains were
> compared before and after MBSL partial transection
> at 1,400-, 3,000-, and 5,600-N loads. Results-Bone
> strains increased in all locations with increasing
> axial load. All lateral condylar bone strains were
> significantly higher, and abaxial surface medial
> condylar bone strain was significantly lower,
> after partial transection of the MBSL. Respective
> distal joints became more flexed or extended as
> axial load increased but were not significantly
> different after partial transection of the MBSL.
> Conclusions-Partial transection of the MBSL
> increases in vitro MC3 lateral condylar bone
> surface strains. ***Clinical Relevance-Loss of
> integrity of the medial branch of the suspensory
> ligament could increase the risk for lateral
> condylar fracture in Thoroughbred horses by
> amplifying bone strain in the lateral condyle.
>
>
We\'ve covered a lot of this ground on previous posts, but it is good to see the more technical stuff getting posted now.
In response to one query: horses break down front and back. I have had both things happen.
It is important to understand that condylar fractures mostly come from the repeated pounding of the condyle, which flattens the bone. Once it starts to flatten it tears through the soft tissue, which lines the joint. That\'s when fracturing begins.
Many trainers do not recognize the difference between gimpiness that is caused by this as opposed to gimpiness from other causes, such as shin problems. They know a horse can grow through shin problems so they continue training. This is deadly when the cause is in the condyle.
If you believe there is no way I can know more about this than most trainers, you don\'t know many trainers. Even good ones are ill informed on some issues such as this.
As I said before, it is likely Barbaro fractured his condylar bone first, which brought on a misstep and fracturing of the other bones in subsequent strides. It is also likely he was showing some gimpiness in his training, which would explain his light racing schedule and relatively light workout schedule. If you pop enough pain killers into a horse he will race without showing the problem and if you are lucky you can get him through a light racing schedule, but you would be pressing your luck.
They pressed it.
alm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We\'ve covered a lot of this ground on previous
> posts, but it is good to see the more technical
> stuff getting posted now.
>
> In response to one query: horses break down front
> and back. I have had both things happen.
>
> It is important to understand that condylar
> fractures mostly come from the repeated pounding
> of the condyle, which flattens the bone. Once it
> starts to flatten it tears through the soft
> tissue, which lines the joint. That\'s when
> fracturing begins.
>
> Many trainers do not recognize the difference
> between gimpiness that is caused by this as
> opposed to gimpiness from other causes, such as
> shin problems. They know a horse can grow through
> shin problems so they continue training. This is
> deadly when the cause is in the condyle.
>
> If you believe there is no way I can know more
> about this than most trainers, you don\'t know many
> trainers. Even good ones are ill informed on some
> issues such as this.
>
> As I said before, it is likely Barbaro fractured
> his condylar bone first, which brought on a
> misstep and fracturing of the other bones in
> subsequent strides. It is also likely he was
> showing some gimpiness in his training, which
> would explain his light racing schedule and
> relatively light workout schedule. If you pop
> enough pain killers into a horse he will race
> without showing the problem and if you are lucky
> you can get him through a light racing schedule,
> but you would be pressing your luck.
>
> They pressed it.
Alm, became convinced you are speaking from an experienced perspective. Without your background, others have approached this issue trying to deduce the truth. What you have said should have enabled those using deduction to have their thinking coalesce.
How many Derby winners have come unglued in their next start?
How many Derby winners came in on such a heavily spaced racing schedule?
How many Derby winners began their careers on Turf?
This was a horse with issues. No doubt whatsoever about it. No one is going to talk now, if ever.
This won\'t go over well, but some fear Barbaro due to the media and the media sob stories, may have an inside track on 3YO champion. If he does win that honor, that will encourage the unknowledgeable to consider him an even more desirous Stallion Prospect. The reality is that this horse is the WORST stallion prospect to come along in a decade. He is already highly regarded but he is a genetic minefield upon OUCH. He is time bomb upon infirmity. There is no way this horse should be allowed to breed. Hopefully the great horse god in the sky will intervene to protect future runners. Or Sweetnorthernsaint and Sinister Minister get back quick and win out to clear the heads of the media voters.