Types of Equine Splint Bone Fractures

A horse suffering from a fracture is a scary situation. Fractures most commonly occur in the long leg bones of a horse and can cause a horse to be lame for the rest of its life. The cannon bone runs down the middle of leg, and on each side of that bone is a long, narrow bone called the splint bone, which extends from the knee to the ankle. It is fairly common for a horse that has suffered a severe fracture to be euthanized because the expense of trying to mend the leg is more than the horse is worth.

  1. Incomplete Fracture

    • Incomplete fractures are also commonly referred to as stress fractures. An incomplete fracture is when a bone cracks but does not separate into two different pieces. An incomplete fracture can be difficult to diagnose because the horse will often still use the leg and may not limp, depending on the severity of the break. The danger of an incomplete fracture is that the bone is weakened and will continue to become weaker as it is continually stressed. Incomplete fractures are commonly seen in horses that are required to perform at high activity levels, such as race horses.

    Complete Fractures

    • When the bone is fractured and separates into two separate pieces it is called a complete fracture. Complete fractures do not break through the skin. If a horse suffers a complete fracture, it will immediately lose the use of the leg. Performance horses can suffer a complete fracture during intense exercising. Horses that are in the pasture in a herd can get kicked and suffer a complete fracture as well. Complete fractures are difficult for horses to recover from, so they are often euthanized. Even if a horse is able to recover from the break, it is rarely able to return to work.

    Compound Fractures

    • When a fracture breaks through a horse's skin, it is called a compound fracture. The skin of a horse is very thin and is easily punctured. Compound fractures make the healing process for horses very complicated because of the risk of infection from the skin wound. Horses that suffer from a compound fracture are usually euthanized unless surgery can repair the break and facilities are available to keep the horse from placing weight on the injured leg. This type of care is very expensive.