Clinical history An 11 year old pony was free to run in a pasture with other horses - he was noted to be acutely lame on the right forelimb and was non-weight bearing (5/5 lame). Physical examination indicated marked swelling of the right forelimb. He was treated conservatively for 9 days and then transported for further examination. Multiple radiographs were made of the forelimb centering on the carpus. Radiographic diagnosis Can you make a definitive diagnosis from the 3 radiographic views? The additional study may be of value. An additional oblique view was made with the x-ray tube craniomedial and the cassette positioned caudolateral. Radiographic diagnosis A longitudinal monocortical fracture of the radius separates a rather large cortical fragment from the caudomedial aspect of the bone. The fracture line appears to enter the radiocarpal joint space distally. The marked increase in width of the radiocarpal joint space on all views results from the partially flexed position of the limb due to nonweightbearing during radiography. As usual, multiple views are necessary to fully evaluate a fracture with only minimal displacement of the fragments.
