A distal fracture of the 4th metacarpus. The fracture fragment is totally separated from the parent bone. The excessive exostosis can press against the suspensory ligament causing lameness. A proximal fracture of a metacarpal bone with drainage due to a sequestrum. In the case of proximal 2nd metacarpal fractures stabilization with a plate or bone grafts to retain the distal portion of the bone may be necessary to resolve lameness.
Compound fracture can often heal with antibiotic therapy and local debridement.
However, if a sequestrum is involved or if the carpometacarpal joint is involved, surgical debridement with removal of dead bone is necessary. The mass created by splint bone exostosis and surgery to remove the extra bone needs to remove the periosteum to prevent new bone deposition at the site. Second and fourth metacarpal and metatarsal fractures. Horses with stress fractures of the dorsal cortex or the metacarpal condyle have varying degrees of lameness. Traumatic fractures occur in any location an are often multiple fractures with oblique proximal and distal fragments.