The use of an absorbable bone screw as a transphyseal bridge for the correction of fetlock varus deviations in six foals

Authors
R. A. Wall, P. Robinson, A. R. Adkins
Date
November 2010
Journal
Equine Veterinary Education
Volume
22
Number
11
Pages
571-575

This report describes and evaluates the use of a single-positional absorbable screw (Smart Screw)1 as a temporary transphyseal bridge of the lateral aspect of the distal metacarpus in 6 foals with fetlock varus deformities. Using radiographic and visual assessments, an improvement in the severity of the deviation was identified in all cases. There were no complications encountered during screw placement or post operatively.

The use of absorbable screws in the treatment of angular limb deformities in foals has potential and offers several advantages over the use of traditional stainless steel implants.

Equine
Internal Fixation
Bone

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