ERACTURES IN THE PEDIATRIC PATIENT

摘要

Trauma surgery in foals is at once both challenging and unusually rewarding for an equine surgeon. The surgeon has the opportunity to successfully repair injuries that are either untreatable or extraordinarily difficult in adult horses. Foals' tissuestypically heal more quickly, their less imposing musculature allows reasonable exposure of much more of the skeleton, their lesser body weight allows longer survival of metal implants and foals don't develop supporting limb laminitis. Although younger is almost always easier, there are also some disadvantages in the management of foals with orthopedic injuries. Excessive weight bearing on the limb opposite the injury can result in permanent plastic deformation and external coaptation (splints/casts) ofthe injured limb may result in tendon and ligament weakness. Both complications can result in clinical failure despite successful resolution of the original problem. Another difficulty encountered in foals with orthopedic injuries is that treatment decisions must be made in consideration of their intended use. Although this isn't unique to foals, accurate prognostication for cosmetic and/or functional outcome is difficult and is often demanded by owners before they will proceed with treatment. The truth is that we are often guessing what the exact prognosis might be.