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Biomedical subjects

L R Bramlage

Publications and source records attributed to L R Bramlage.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Fracture of the distal sesamoid bone in horses: 17 cases (1982-1992).

Medical records of 17 horses in which a distal sesamoid bone fracture was diagnosed between 1982 and 1992 were reviewed. There were 8 Standardbreds, 6 Quarter Horses, 2 Thoroughbreds, and 1 Arabian. Mean age was 4.7 years. A forelimb was affected in 15 horses, and a hind limb was affected in 2. All horses were lame, and most were grade III/V lame at the trot. In all horses, the diagnosis was confirmed by means of radiography. Five horses were treated with stall rest alone; 5 underwent neurectomy; 4 were treated with stall rest and corrective shoeing; and 1 was treated with stall rest and external coaptation. The other 2 horses were euthanatized. Two Quarter Horses, 1 treated with stall rest and corrective shoeing and the other treated with stall rest and external coaptation, returned to use as halter horses, and 2 Standardbreds treated with stall rest alone returned to racing, but at a lower level than they had raced prior to injury. One horse that underwent neurectomy could be used for pleasure riding. Long-term rest may be important in achieving a successful outcome. Pleasure horses would appear to have a better prognosis for return to use after a distal sesamoid bone fracture than do performance horses.

Animals↗

Racing performance after hemicircumferential periosteal transection for angular limb deformities in thoroughbreds: 199 cases (1987-1989).

Racing records of 199 Thoroughbred foals with angular limb deformities surgically treated by hemicircumferential periosteal transection and elevation (HCPT) from 1987 through 1989 (principals) were compared with records of their 1,017 siblings (controls) for starting status; 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old starts; earnings and earnings per start; and starts percentile ranking number (SPR). Principals had a slightly lower percentage of horses starting a race (45 vs 55%), fewer 2-year-old starts (1.06 vs 1.72), and lower SPR (33.49 vs 49.18), compared with those of controls (P < 0.05). Starting status was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by surgery and the horse's sex, but not by anatomic site treated. Fillies were 1.74 times less likely to start than were colts, regardless of surgery, whereas principal fillies were 2.63 times less likely to start than were control colts. Difference was not detected between principals and controls in 3- or 4-year-old starts; 2-, 3-, or 4-year-old earnings, or earnings per start. Horses treated with distal metacarpal/metatarsal HCPT had fewer 2-year-old starts (1.09 vs 2.19), but did not have a significantly different SPR or lower starting percentage, compared with values for controls. Horses treated with distal radial HCPT had lower starting percentage (48 vs 55%), fewer 2-year-old starts (1.22 vs 1.70), and lower SPR (32.53 vs 53.32), compared with those of controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Repair of a full-thickness gastric rupture in a horse.

A 14-year-old Thoroughbred broodmare was evaluated for signs of mild to moderate abdominal pain of 5 hours' duration. Exploratory celiotomy revealed a 20 x 8-cm subserosal hematoma associated with a focal serosal perforation overlying a muscular tear along the parietal surface of the stomach. The odor of intestinal tract gas was detected, but gross contamination of the abdomen was not evident. Concurrent partial volvulus of the small intestine was evident. Removal of the large colon from the abdomen appeared to coincide with propagation of the serosal perforation to a full-thickness gastric rent. The tear was repaired by use of a 2-layer inverting closure. The horse had evidence of an acute gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage 10 days after surgery, but responded to treatment. At a 2-year follow-up evaluation, the mare had foaled once and had not experienced recurrent signs of abdominal disease.

Animals↗

Lag screw fixation of noncomminuted sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in racehorses: 59 cases (1973-1991).

Medical records of 59 racehorses with noncomminuted midsagittal proximal phalanx fractures repaired by means of lag screw fixation between 1973 and 1991 were reviewed. Fractures were classified as short incomplete fractures (7), long incomplete fractures (32), complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint (13), and complete fractures extending through the lateral cortex of the proximal phalanx (7). Time from fracture repair to first race following fracture repair, number of racing starts, and fastest race times before and after surgery were obtained from race records and compared among horses grouped by fracture type and between horses that returned to racing and those that did not race. Five horses with short incomplete fractures, 21 horses with long incomplete fractures, 6 horses with complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint, and 5 horses with complete fractures extending to the lateral cortex returned to racing. A significantly lower percentage of horses returned to racing following repair of complete fractures extending into the proximal interphalangeal joint (46%), than following repair of short incomplete fractures (71%), long incomplete fractures (66%), or complete fractures extending to the lateral cortex (71%). Time from fracture to repair for horses that returned to racing (mean, 14.7 days; range, 1 to 60 days) was not significantly different from that for horses that did not race (mean, 5.8 days; range, 1 to 21 days). For all fracture groups, median number of races before injury was not significantly different from median number of races after repair, and median fastest race time before fracture was not significantly different from median fastest race time after fracture repair.

Animals↗

Diagnosis and management of incomplete fracture of the distal palmar aspect of the third metacarpal bone in five horses.

Incomplete fracture of the distal palmar aspect of the third metacarpal bone was diagnosed in 5 horses. Mild to moderate lameness and positive response to flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joint were evident in all horses. Fractures were not detectable in 4 horses when the routine 30 degrees proximodorsal-palmarodistal radiographic view was used. Visualization of the fractures in these 4 horses required imaging of the palmar condylar surface by use of a dorsopalmar view of the flexed joint or a 125 degrees dorsoproximal-dorsodistal view. The dorsopalmar view of the flexed joint was used in a fifth horse to evaluate fracture healing when the fracture was no longer evident on routine radiographic views. Scintigraphy was used to locate the fracture sites in 2 horses. Treatment in all horses involved rest with gradual return to exercise, and all horses returned to their previous levels of racing. Scintigraphy and imaging of the palmar condylar surface of the third metacarpal bone allow for a more complete evaluation when other diagnostic images are within normal limits.

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Transection of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon for treatment of tendinitis: long term results in 61 standardbred racehorses (1985-1992).

Medical records and lifetime race results were obtained for 61 Standardbred racehorses treated consecutively from 1985 to 1992 with transection of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon (AL-SDF) for tendinitis of one or both forelimbs. A clinical diagnosis of tendinitis was confirmed in all cases by ultrasonographic examination. After surgery, 50 (82%) horses raced and 42 (69%) completed 5 or more starts. Eight horses (13%) failed to start and/or complete 5 or more races due to a recurrence of tendinitis. Six (10%) horses did not start and/or complete 5 or more starts for reasons unrelated to tendinitis and 5 (8%) horses were lost to follow-up. The median time between surgery and the first post operative start was 39 weeks. Fifty-seven per cent of those horses to start after surgery completed 20 or more starts and 40% raced on 40 or more occasions. Of the 42 horses to complete 5 or more races, the median number of post operative starts was 37 at time of follow-up. Thirty-two of 50 (64%) horses to start after surgery established or lowered lifetime racemarks. Thirty-six horses had raced prior to surgery. Thirty-one of 36 (86%) horses returned to racing after treatment of SDF tendinitis with accessory desmotomy (AD) and 27 horses (75%) completed 5 or more starts. Median earnings per start decreased 25% after surgery. Twenty-five horses had not raced prior to surgery. Nineteen (76%) horses in this group were age 2 years at time of injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Postoperative racing performance in standardbreds and thoroughbreds with osteochondrosis of the tarsocrural joint: 109 cases (1984-1990).

Medical records for 64 Thoroughbred and 45 Standardbred horses with osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) of the tarsocrural joint that were treated by means of arthroscopic removal of the fragments before 2 years of age and before beginning racing were reviewed. Lesion site was recorded for all horses. The other foals from the dams of these surgically treated horses (siblings) were identified from mare progeny records. Racing data, including number of starts and money won during the 2- and 3-year-old racing years were obtained from the Jockey Club and the United States Trotting Association for affected horses and their siblings. Statistical analysis was performed to test the hypothesis that there was no difference between the racing performance of horses with OCD of the tarsocrural joint that were surgically treated by means of arthroscopic removal of the fragments prior to racing and that of their siblings. One hundred and seventy-four lesions were recorded in 109 horses. The distribution of lesions was similar to that previously reported. For the Standardbreds, 22% of those that had surgery raced as 2 year olds and 43% raced as 3 year olds, compared with 42 and 50% of the siblings that raced as 2 year olds and 3 year olds, respectively. For the Thoroughbreds, 43% of those that had surgery raced as 2 year olds and 78% raced as 3 year olds, compared with 48% and 73% of the siblings that raced as 2 year olds and 3 year olds, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Lesions of the caudal aspect of the femoral condyles in foals: 20 cases (1980-1990).

Medical records and radiographs were reviewed from 20 foals with caudal femoral condylar lesions. Osseous lesions were classified radiographically into 3 categories. Type-I lesions were characterized by a discrete area of radiolucency within the subchondral bone of the caudal aspect of a femoral condyle and were associated with septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. Type-II lesions had localized, osseous irregularities involving < 50% of the femoral condyle. Type-III lesions had widespread irregularities involving a large area of the condyle, and in 5 foals with type-III lesions, there was a thin osseous fragment displaced from the condyle and free in the femorotibial joint pouch. Foals with type-I and -III lesions were severely lame and often required assistance to stand. Foals with type-II lesions were not as lame, but lameness was evident at the trot and was exacerbated by flexion of the affected stifle. Cytologic evaluation of the synovial fluid from foals with type-I lesions was compatible with septic arthritis, whereas synovial fluid from foals with type-II and -III lesions was not septic. Surgical exploration and debridement were performed in 4 foals. Two foals with type-II lesions are currently performing athletically. The remaining 2 foals, in which surgery was performed, had type-III lesions; both of those foals were euthanatized at surgery because of the severity of the lesions. Follow-up information was available in 5 foals that did not have surgery. Two foals with type-I lesions and 1 foal with a type-III lesion were sound 1 year after diagnosis. One foal with a type-II lesion had residual lameness that prevented performance, and 1 foal with a type-III lesion was salvaged for breeding. Eleven foals were euthanatized and available for postmortem examination. Gross examination of the joints in foals with type-I lesions revealed a subchondral bone defect with intact articular cartilage in 3 of 4 foals examined. In 1 foal with a type-II lesion, a gross examination was performed, which revealed a focal indentation of the articular cartilage and on cross section had a retained cartilaginous core. Postmortem examination of 4 foals with type-III lesions revealed a large, denuded area with a shell-like cartilage fragment free within the joint. Two additional foals within this same group had marked irregularity of the articular cartilage with deep reticulation in the articular surface. In 2 of 3 foals examined with type-I lesions, histologic examination revealed suppurative osteomyelitis. The third foal in this group had changes compatible with focal ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

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Assessment and treatment of equine humeral fractures: retrospective study of 54 cases (1972-1990).

Fractures of the humerus were diagnosed in horses at The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Twenty-four horses (44.4%) were destroyed after radiographic assessment (mean age of 5.0 years). Surgical treatment was elected in 13 horses (24.1%, mean age of 0.42 years). Conservative management, consisting of prolonged stall rest, was chosen for 17 horses (31.5%, mean age of 2.2 years). In the surgically treated group, 3 foals (23.1%) all less than 2 months of age at the time of fracture and treated with intramedullary stack pinning, survived and became athletically sound. After conservative treatment, 9 (52.9%) horses were considered successful, 4 becoming athletically sound and 5 becoming pasture sound. The mean age at the time of presentation in the 9 horses considered successful was 1.81 years. With current fixation techniques, conservative management of equine humeral fractures appears to be as good an option as surgical treatment.

Age Factors↗

Retrospective study of 38 cases of femur fractures in horses less than one year of age.

Medical records of 38 horses less than 1 year of age and diagnosed as having a fracture of the femoral diaphysis, metaphysis or distal physis were evaluated. Twenty-six foals had fractures of the femoral diaphysis or metaphysis with the most common fracture configuration being comminuted. Twelve foals had distal physeal fractures with the most common fracture configuration being a Salter-Harris type II. Twenty-one foals with fractures of the capital femoral physis, neck or greater trochanter during the same time period were excluded from this study. Surgical repair was attempted in 16 diaphyseal and 2 distal physeal fractures. Most of the diaphyseal fractures were repaired by placing plates on the lateral and cranial surfaces of the bone. Dynamic condylar screw plates or angle blade plates were used for increased bone purchase in 4 foals with short distal fragments. Five foals with distal physeal fractures were treated; 2 were surgically treated by placing an angle blade plate on the lateral cortex, and 3 foals with minimally displaced distal physeal fractures were managed with stall confinement. Eight of the 16 surgically repaired diaphyseal fractures healed. Fracture location and configuration was not a determinant of outcome, but the mean age of foals with successfully repaired diaphyseal fractures was 2 months compared with 4 months for the unsuccessful cases, indicating that the age and size of the foal was important. Long-term follow up revealed that 6 of the 8 successfully repaired diaphyseal fractures had no residual effects of the fracture observed during performance of the horse for its intended use. Only 1 of the 2 surgically repaired distal physeal fractures healed, but this horse was eventually killed because of unthriftiness related to a malabsorption syndrome. Some form of complication developed in 13 of the 18 surgically repaired fractures. Infection was the primary cause of failure. The greatest determinant associated with infection was the inability to control post-surgical seroma formation.

Age Factors↗

A retrospective study of 192 horses affected with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis.

The medical records of 192 horses with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis 1979-1989 were reviewed. Forty-three horses developed infection after an intra-articular injection, 46 following a penetrating wound, 25 following surgery, 66 were foals less than 6 months old, and 12 were adult horses without a known aetiology. Haematogenous infection of a joint occurs in adult horses and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with an acute onset of severe lameness. The aetiology of the infection had a significant effect on the type of bacteria identified by culture. Staphylococcus was cultured from most of the horses that developed infection following a joint injection or surgery, 69% of the horses from which an organism was identified. Horses that developed infection secondary to a penetrating wound frequently provided cultures of more than one organism; Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobes were more frequently isolated in this group. The most common organisms isolated from foals were Enterobacteriaceae; E. coli was identified in more than 27% of the foals. The hock was the most frequently involved joint. Multiple treatments were used over the 10-year period of study. Survival rates were lowest in foals; only 45% survived to be released from the hospital. Survival was greater in adult horses; 85% of the horses that were treated were released from the hospital. Survival was significantly greater in horses with septic tenosynovitis; all 14 of the horses that were treated survived. Survival was not significantly affected by the joint involved or by the type of bacteria cultured from the synovial fluid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Open drainage, intra-articular and systemic antibiotics in the treatment of septic arthritis/tenosynovitis in horses.

Open drainage was used to treat 26 horses with persistent or severe septic arthritis/tenosynovitis. Infected synovial structures were drained through a small (3 cm) arthrotomy incision that was left open and protected by a sterile bandage. Joint lavage was performed in all 26 horses. In addition to systemic antibiotics, 23 of these horses were also treated with intra-articular antibiotics; amikacin (17 horses), gentamycin (2 horses), cefazolin (2 horses), and 2 horses were injected at different times with gentamycin and amikacin. The infection was eliminated from the involved synovial structures in 25 of 26 horses; 24 survived and were released from the hospital. The arthrotomy incisions healed by granulation in 16 horses; in 9 horses the arthrotomy incision was sutured closed once the infection was eliminated. Seventeen horses returned to soundness and resumed athletic function. Open drainage was an effective method of achieving chronic drainage from a joint or tendon sheath. It is indicated in horses that have established intra-synovial infections or in horses that do not respond to joint lavage through needles.

Amikacin↗

Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates from 233 horses with musculoskeletal infection during 1979-1989.

Bacterial culture and susceptibility results were analysed from 233 horses with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis or osteomyelitis that developed after fracture repair. Antibiotics were deemed highly effective, effective or ineffective if > or = 85%, 70-84.9% or < 70% of the isolates were susceptible respectively. In total, 424 bacterial types were isolated; 386 were aerobic or facultative and 38 were anaerobic. Enterobacteriaceae (28.8%) were the most common bacterial group isolated, followed by non-beta-haemolytic streptococci (13.0%), coagulase-positive staphylococci (11.8%), beta-haemolytic streptococci (9.4%), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (7.3%). The remainder of the organisms were other Gram-negative (15.8%), other Gram-positive (2.3%) and miscellaneous (2.6%) bacteria. Penicillin and ampicillin were highly effective against beta-haemolytic streptococci, but were ineffective against other bacteria. Ampicillin was no more effective than penicillin against most bacteria. Amikacin was the most effective antibiotic against the wide range of bacteria isolated in this study. Amikacin was highly effective against coagulase-positive staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas and was effective against coagulase-negative staphylococci and Actinobacillus. Gentamycin was not highly effective against any bacterial group; but was effective against coagulase-positive and negative staphylococci, Pseudomonas, Salmonella and Actinobacillus. Kanamycin was ineffective against all bacteria with the exception of Actinobacillus. Cephalothin was highly effective against beta-haemolytic streptococci, coagulase-positive staphylococci and Actinobacillus and was effective against coagulase-negative staphylococci.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Lag screw and cancellous bone graft fixation of transverse proximal sesamoid bone fractures in horses: 25 cases (1983-1989).

Case records of 25 horses with transverse fractures of the proximal sesamoid bone were reviewed to evaluate the success of treatment. All fractures were repaired by use of lag screw fixation and an autogenous cancellous bone graft because the fracture fragments were considered too large for surgical removal and reconstruction of the suspensory apparatus was necessary. Radiography was performed in all cases, and the fractures were classified into 3 types: (1) proximal midbody fractures, which included all fractures in the proximal aspect of the sesamoid bone that resulted in fragments involving greater than one third but less than one half of the total mass of the sesamoid bone; (2) midbody fractures that divided the bone into 2 equal portions; and (3) distal midbody fractures, which included transverse fractures in the distal aspect of the sesamoid bone that resulted in fragments involving greater than one third but less than one half of the total mass of the sesamoid bone. Of these cases, race records were obtained for 9 Standardbreds and 5 Thoroughbreds. Postoperative performance criteria evaluated were the ability to train and start 1 race, ability to maintain preinjury class of racing, earnings per start, and the number of starts following surgery. In Thoroughbreds, fractures occurred most commonly in the right forelimb; in Standardbreds, the left hind limb was most commonly involved. The midbody fracture was the most common type in both breeds, and the distribution of fracture location within the sesamoid bone was similar for both breeds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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The effects of copper supplementation on the prevalence of cartilage lesions in foals.

The potential role of dietary copper in the development of cartilage defects in foals was investigated. Twenty-one mares were fed rations containing 13 ppm copper (CuC, control) or 32 ppm copper (CuS, supplemented) during the last three to six months of gestation and first three months of lactation. Their foals were fed pelleted concentrate containing 15 or 55 ppm Cu and were destroyed at 90 (5 CuC and 5 CuS foals) or 180 (6 CuC and 5 CuS foals) days. Focal cartilage lesions were found at multiple sites on necropsy. In foals killed at 90 days, there were over twice (9 versus 4) as many lesions of osteochondrosis and more than four times (9 versus 2) as many articular lesions of osteophyte formation or thinning in CuC foals compared with CuS foals. These differences were due predominantly to a higher number of lesions in one CuC foal. Two 90-day CuC foals had osteochondrosis of articular-epiphyseal (A-E) complex, one with thickenings and separation from subchondral bone and one with subchondral fibrosis. One 90-day CuS foal had a cartilage thickening of the A-E complex in the tibiotarsal joint with separation from subchondral bone. In foals killed at 180 days, there were seven times more articular lesions (21 versus 3) of osteophyte formation or thinning, nearly twice as many lesions of osteochondrosis (13 versus 8) [corrected] in the physis and over five times as many involving the A-E complex (11 versus 2) in six CuC foals compared with five CuS foals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗

Internal fixation of a transverse scapular neck fracture in a filly.

A 3-week-old Standardbred filly had a non-weightbearing forelimb lameness caused by scapular neck fracture. The fracture was repaired with 2 dynamic compression plates placed 90 degrees to each other. A 10-hole 4.5-mm narrow dynamic compression plate was placed on the cranial aspect of the scapular spine, and a 10-hole 3.5-mm dynamic compression plate was placed caudal to the scapular spine. One year after surgery, the filly was not lame when exercising in the pasture, and muscle atrophy was not evident on the affected limb. Eighteen months after surgery, the filly was in race training with no apparent problems caused by fracture repair.

Animals↗

Repair of fracture of the proximal portion of the radius and ulna in a llama.

Repair of a comminuted fracture of the proximal portion of the radius and ulna in a 4-month-old llama was achieved by use of internal fixation. An 8-hole narrow dynamic compression plate was applied to the lateral aspect of the radius and a 7-hole narrow dynamic compression plate was applied to the cranial aspect of the radius. One year after surgery, the llama had a normal gait and the cosmetic appearance of the limb was excellent.

Animals↗