EQUINE | International News
EQUINE | International News
response to Hurricane Harvey .
CONTACT : Andy Schwartz , DVM , Andy . Schwartz @ tahc . texas . gov , ( 512 ) 719-0715 , Texas Animal Health Commission , Austin , Texas
Racehorse Breakdowns : The Importance of Postmortem Examinations
I often answer the question “ Why would someone want a postmortem exam on an animal ?” As a veterinary pathologist involved in a necropsy program for racehorses that have experienced racetrack injuries , I get much the same question from both lay people and professionals in the horse industry . People understand why a postmortem is warranted in a case of sudden death , but understanding the need for a necropsy on a horse that has sustained a catastrophic musculoskeletal injury is less clear .
Like all athletes , Thoroughbred racehorses experience a consistent pattern of repetitive use wear associated with their musculoskeletal systems . An analogy familiar to most is the term “ tennis elbow .” For people with even a passing familiarity with sports , “ Tommy John ” surgery for baseball pitchers is a commonly recognized term , as rotator cuff injuries also are a familiar malady in quarterbacks .
The association between pre-existing lesions and catastrophic injuries has been documented for many years , beginning with the flagship postmortem program instituted in California . Greater than 80 % of horses that suffer a fatal musculoskeletal injury have pre-existing underlying pathology related to the fracture , indicating that the final catastrophic event is the culmination of repetitive wear and not an isolated incident caused by a “ bad step ” or a “ hole in the track .” By careful examination of the horse , the acute , catastrophic injury can be documented as well as the underlying pathology . Additionally , non-musculoskeletal health issues can be addressed .
Mortality reviews are conducted with the trainers , the equine medical director , and the stewards following catastrophic breakdowns . The goal of these reviews is not to place blame , but to educate and implement strategies to prevent similar injuries going forward . The overall health and condition of the horse , its training and racing records , and the outcome of the postmortem examination are reviewed in the hope of identifying risk factors for that particular horse and opportunities for future intervention . Additionally , it is hoped that the trainer will disseminate the knowledge gained by sharing their experience with others , including those who work in their barn , friends , and colleagues . Health issues that may not have been clinically apparent but are identified on postmortem examination can be addressed , with informative conversations regarding such things as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage ( EIPH ) and gastric ulcers . In a very complicated set of circumstances , the postmortem examination brings objectivity to these observations .
The ultimate goal of any postmortem program is to mitigate the risk of injury to the horse , and in turn , the exercise riders and jockeys that are involved . Catastrophic breakdowns are the leading cause of serious injury to riders , and in some tragic cases , death . While postmortem examinations may be “ too late ” for the horse in question , the value to the entire population of horses and to the connections of a particular horse are invaluable . We owe it to the horses , riders , trainers , and the racing community as a whole to address this issue . Breakdowns are not inevitable events . We can mitigate the risk of their occurrence in horses through careful and determined study .
CONTACT : Laura A . Kennedy DVM , DACVP , drlaurakennedy @ uky . edu , ( 859 ) 257-6393 , University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory , Lexington , Kentucky
38 • Equine Health Update •