Summary
Complicated mandibular fractures were recognised in one foal, one pony and four horses.
The foal was two months old while the adult animals ranged in age from 12 to 24 years.
Three horses had a unilateral horizontal ramus fracture. Two fractures were open and
one was closed. Comminution was present in one of these patients while the other two
horses had marked displacement of the fragments. Two suffered from comminuted fractures
of the horizontal and vertical ramus of the mandible. One of these patients had open
and infected fractures. One foal had a bilateral horizontal ramus fracture with marked
periosteal ‘new bone’ formation and malalignement which required corrective osteotomy.
Each horse underwent locking compression plate (LCP) osteosynthesis consisting of
open fracture reduction and application of one to three 4.5/5.0 mm LCP at the ventral,
lateral or caudal aspect of the mandible under fluoroscopic control. Two 3.5 mm LCP
were used in the foal. Plate fixation was supported by application of a cerclage wire
construct between the incisor and premolar teeth in most patients. Complete fracture
healing, with an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome, was achieved in all of
the patients. Complications encountered included seroma formation, screw and wire
breakage, as well as implant and apical tooth root infections. The LCP was removed
after fracture healing had occurred in four patients.
Keywords
Horse - mandibular fracture - osteosynthesis - locking compression plate
