Risk factors associated with cast complications in horses: 398 cases (1997-2006)

Janicek, John C.; McClure, Scott R.; Lescun, Timothy B.; Witte, Stefan; Schultz, Loren; Whittal, Carly R.; Whitfield-Cargile, Canaan (2013). Risk factors associated with cast complications in horses: 398 cases (1997-2006). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 242(1), pp. 93-98. American Veterinary Medical Association 10.2460/javma.242.1.93

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OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of and risk factors for complications associated with casts in horses.

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective case series.

ANIMALS

398 horses with a half-limb or full-limb cast treated at 1 of 4 hospitals.

PROCEDURES

Data collected from medical records included age, breed, sex, injury, limb affected, time from injury to hospital admission, surgical procedure performed, type of cast (bandage cast [BC; fiberglass tape applied over a bandage] or traditional cast [TC; fiberglass tape applied over polyurethane resin-impregnated foam]), limb position in cast (flexed, neutral, or extended), and complications. Risk factors for cast complications were identified via multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

Cast complications were detected in 197 of 398 (49%) horses (18/53 [34%] horses with a BC and 179/345 [52%] horses with a TC). Of the 197 horses with complications, 152 (77%) had clinical signs of complications prior to cast removal; the most common clinical signs were increased lameness severity and visibly detectable soft tissue damage Cast sores were the most common complication (179/398 [45%] horses). Casts broke for 20 (5%) horses. Three (0.8%) horses developed a bone fracture attributable to casting Median time to detection of complications was 12 days and 8 days for horses with TCs and BCs, respectively. Complications developed in 71%, 48%, and 47% of horses with the casted limb in a flexed, neutral, and extended position, respectively. For horses with TCs, hospital, limb position in the cast, and sex were significant risk factors for development of cast complications.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results indicated that 49% of horses with a cast developed cast complications.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > ISME Equine Clinic Bern > ISME Equine Clinic, Internal medicine
UniBE Contributor:	Witte, Stefan
Subjects:	600 Technology > 630 Agriculture
ISSN:	0003-1488
Publisher:	American Veterinary Medical Association
Language:	English
Submitter:	Susanne Portner
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2014 14:52
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:31
Publisher DOI:	10.2460/javma.242.1.93
PubMed ID:	23234287
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/45997