Management Plan:

Due to our diagnosis that the foal has a complete displaced articular fracture of the 
olecranon, we recommend treatment with a dynamic narrow compression plate.  With 
this method we will contour fit a compression plate to the caudal side of the olecranon, 
and use lag screws to fasten the plate into place.  Because the foal is less than 6 months 
old, we need to ensure that no screws are placed into the proximal radius.  One long lag 
screw will be placed on the proximal tip of the olecranon, positioning it so that it will 
passs through the olecranon fracture at a 90 degree angle.  The lag screw will bridge the 
fractured olecranon and fasten firmly in the proximal ulna. An appropriate sized lag 
screw will be selected so that the threads are only present in the proximal ulna, distal to 
the olecranon fracture.  Six additional cortical screws will be placed to secure the 
compression plate. These screws will be placed at 90 degree angles to the surface of the 
bone and the compression plate, with 3 screws being placed proximal to the fracture, and 
the remaining 3 screws placed distal to the fracture. The 3 distal screws will be selected 
at an appropriate length to ensure that they do not penetrate the radius. 
Post operation treatment will include bandaging of the entire forelimb, in the area of the 
fracture and distal to it, to minimize edema and prevent contamination of the surgery site. 
The foal will be put on perioperative antibiotics (combination of Ceftiofu, K-penicillin 
and metronidazole) to prevent osteomyelitis. We will instruct the owner to confine the 
foal for 6-8 weeks regardless of the fact that the patient shows immediate improvement 
following surgery. Since the three distal cortical screws did not penetrate the radius, 
removal of the compression plate will only be completed if complications result, such as 
sepsis or rejection of the compression plate.
The prognosis for this foal is good since a compression plate was applied. According to 
Pasquini there is a 76% chance that the foal will return to normal function after surgery.