Physeal Fractures in the Horse:I. Classification and Incidence

Seventy appendicular skeletal physeal fractures in 67 horses were reviewed and classified using the Salter‐Harris classification. All the horses were less than 2 years old (mean age at injury 6.2 months). The mean age at injury for pressure physeal fractures (5.2 months) was significantly less (p < .05) than for traction physeal fractures (8.3 months). The majority (67.2%) of the horses were female. Forty‐eight (69%) pressure physes and 22 (31%) traction physes were affected. The most common pressure and traction physeal fracture sites were the proximal femoral physis and the proximal ulnar physis, respectively. Sixty‐seven physeal fractures were classified: 14 as Type I (20.9%), 42 as Type II (62.7%), six as Type III (8.9%), and five as Type IV (7.5%). Forty‐six pressure physeal fractures were classified: six as Type I (13.0%), 30 as Type II (65.2%), five as Type Hi (10.9%), and 5 as Type IV (10.9%).