Survival and racing performance after surgical treatment of rib fractures in foals.
Authors: Velloso Álvarez Ana, Sandow Cole B, Rodgerson Dwayne H, Spirito Michael A
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Survival and Racing Performance After Surgical Treatment of Rib Fractures in Foals Rib fractures in neonatal foals are a significant clinical challenge, yet limited evidence exists regarding their surgical management and long-term athletic outcomes. This retrospective analysis of 73 foals undergoing surgical rib repair found that 78% survived to hospital discharge, with 61% of survivors subsequently entering racing—a performance only marginally lower than their unaffected maternal siblings (67% raced). Notably, neither the number of fractured ribs, presence of concurrent conditions, choice of surgical technique, nor laterality of injury significantly influenced either short-term survival or long-term racing prospects. These findings suggest that prognosis for foals with surgically repaired rib fractures is considerably more favourable than might be expected from such a seemingly serious injury, though practitioners should recognise that approximately one-fifth of cases still do not survive the initial hospitalisation period. For equine professionals managing neonatal thoracic trauma, these data provide reassurance that surgical intervention offers reasonable prospects for return to athletic function in survivors, whilst emphasising the importance of tailoring surgical decisions to individual case characteristics rather than restricting intervention based on fracture extent alone.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Surgical repair of rib fractures in neonatal foals offers good survival rates (78%), with long-term racing potential comparable to unaffected siblings—making it a worthwhile intervention
- •Treatment decisions can focus on clinical stability rather than worry about rib number or specific surgical technique, as these variables do not predict outcome
- •Foals requiring rib repair should be managed for any concurrent conditions, but these do not meaningfully worsen prognosis if the fractures are addressed surgically
Key Findings
- •78% of neonatal foals (57/73) with surgically repaired rib fractures survived to hospital discharge
- •Rib fractures were more common in colts (61%) and affected the left hemithorax in 57% of cases
- •61% of surgically treated foals that survived (35/57) subsequently started a race, comparable to 67% of maternal siblings (173/257)
- •Surgical technique, number of fractured ribs, and co-morbidities did not significantly affect short- or long-term outcomes