Treatment of a second carpal bone fracture by removal under ultrasonographic guidance in a horse.

Objective: To report an unusual 2nd carpal bone (C2) slab fracture and its treatment, using an ultrasonographically assisted, minimally invasive arthrotomy technique, for fragment removal.

Study Design: Case report.

Animals: An 11-year-old crossbred Warmblood gelding.

Methods: A bone fragment, spanning the height of C2, identified on the palmaromedial aspect of C2 was demarcated intraoperatively using ultrasonographically guided needles and removed by arthrotomy.

Results: Fracture fragment removal was achieved using a small, ultrasonographically guided arthrotomy. The horse has become sound after treatment and returned to the previous level of pleasure riding activity.

Conclusions: Perioperative ultrasonography was used to delineate and facilitate removal of an unusual slab fragment of C2, through a minimally sized arthrotomy. Despite the presence of pancarpal osteoarthritis and partial involvement of the medial collateral ligament, the prognosis appeared to be satisfactory for this pleasure riding horse.

Clinical Relevance: Ultrasonographic guidance may be used to optimize the approach to C2 articular bony fragments that may not be observed using arthroscopy.