Equis ISSN 2398-2977

Ulna: fracture

Introduction

• Cause: external trauma.
• Signs: acute severe lameness   Musculoskeletal: gait evaluation  ; swelling; dropped elbow, flexed carpus and fetlock if triceps disrupted   Musculoskeletal: physical examination - adult  ; evidence of other trauma, eg radial fracture   Radius: fracture  .
• Diagnosis: radiography   Forelimb: radiography  .
• Treatment: internal fixation   Ulna: fracture repair  .
• Prognosis: good if minimal elbow joint articulation disruption or if surgery re-establishes the articular surface.

Pathogenesis

Pathophysiology

• Tensile overload   →   distraction of the triceps attachment   →   separation of the olecranon physis.
  Type 2 - epiphyseal and metaphyseal fracture
• Direct trauma   →   metaphysis and epiphysis fracture, with metaphyseal fragment often extending into the elbow joint.
  Type 3-5 - olecranon body
• Trauma (> yearling, adult)   →   fracture olecranon diaphysis   →   distraction by triceps, usually along the caudal cortex because cranial portion secured by joint capsule.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Outcomes