Sidebone and Coffin Bone Fractures (AAEP 2010)

When it comes to lame horses, things aren’t always simple–the injuries/problems don’t always come one at a time. Take sidebone, for example–in a recent study presented at the 2010 the American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention (held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.) researchers described a series of cases with sidebone, coffin bone fractures, and associated soft tissue problems.
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Normal View

This proton density dorsal plane image through the navicular bone shows normal (not ossified) ungual cartilage.

When it comes to lame horses, things aren't always simple–the injuries/problems don't always come one at a time. Take sidebone, for example–in a recent study presented at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention (held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.) researchers described a series of cases with sidebone, coffin bone fractures, and associated soft tissue problems.

"The ungual or collateral cartilages in the foot (on either side of the coffin bone, thought to function in hoof expansion/shock absorption) start out as (soft) hyaline cartilage, then can ossify (harden into bone, termed sidebone or ossified collateral/ungual cartilage) with age or other factors," explained Kurt Selberg, MS, DVM, a veterinary resident at Colorado State University (CSU). "The causes are unknown, but might include concussion (from working on hard surfaces), ligament strain, poor farriery, or other factors. Clinical signs include a shortened stride and obscure lameness, perhaps because the ossified cartilages don't function in their normal expanding and contracting manner (with each step)

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Written by:

Christy West has a BS in Equine Science from the University of Kentucky, and an MS in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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