Objective: To assess the influence of humeral stress fracture location on the time to return to racing and postinjury performance of thoroughbred racehorses. Study design: Retrospective study (1992-2015). Sample population: Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 131) that presented for lameness with the sole diagnosis of humeral stress fractures in the lame limb, as determined by scintigraphy or radiology. Methods: Sex, fracture site, age, starts, earnings, and average earnings per race were examined for differences in pre-stress and post-stress fracture diagnosis for the entire population as well as individual stress fracture locations (general linear model, χ 2 tests). Pre-stress and post-stress fracture performance for the three stress fracture locations were assessed: (1) earnings pre-stress and post-stress fracture (Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance), (2) average earnings per start prefracture, and (3) average earnings per start postfracture (Wilcoxon signed-rank tests). Results: Stress fracture locations were caudodistal (n = 36), craniodistal (n = 43), and caudoproximal (n = 52). One hundred ten of 131 horses raced postfracture, and 54 of 131 horses raced prefracture. Age at injury was 43.61 months caudodistal, 33.48 months caudoproximal, and 36.65 months craniodistal. Horses returned to race at a median of 244 days (range, 218-272). Postfracture earnings per start were greater for caudodistal vs caudoproximal (P = .04). Conclusion: There were no differences in prefracture earnings or fracture site and sex or limb affected. Return-to-race time varied by location but not significantly. Differences in earnings preinjury and postinjury were not significant. Horses with a stress fracture at the caudodistal location earned significantly more compared with horses with a stress fracture at the caudoproximal location after they returned to race. Clinical significance: Thoroughbred racehorses have a good prognosis for return to racing regardless of fracture location.

Summary:A 49-year-old man was admitted in transfer for further management of a pulmonary embolism (PE) and possible mitral valve vegetation. Transthoracic echocardiography performed at our institution showed evidence of right ventricular (RV) enlargement and dysfunction. Within the right atrium was a serpentine mobile thrombus which traversed the interatrial septum at the level of the fossa ovalis and extended into the left atrium to the level of the anterior mitral valve leaflet. Because of the patient's dyspnea, RV dysfunction, and large clot burden, thrombolytic therapy was considered and would have been administered had the thrombus in situ not been identified. In light of the thrombus in situ and the concern about possible systemic embolization with thrombolytic therapy, the patient underwent successful surgical thrombectomy. This case highlights the importance of echocardiography in the management of patients with PE. We believe that all patients should undergo echocardiography prior to receiving thrombolytic therapy for pulmonary emboli. Careful interrogation of the interatrial septum for the presence of a thrombus in situ is warranted. Thrombectomy should be considered in individuals with PE who have a thrombus in situ.

During a strangles outbreak within a herd of minature horses, a six week old foal developed acute onset clinical signs of sepsis and neurological deficits. The foal was euthanized and submitted for post-mortem at the Animal Health Laboratories, Guelph Ontario. Gross <em>post-mortem</em> examination noted severe bronchopneumonia, hypopyon of the right eye and a singular cerebellar peduncle abscess. Culture of the lungs and cerebellum produced a pure growth of <em>Streptococcus equi</em> ssp. <em>equi</em>. <em>Streptococcus equi</em> ssp. <em>equi</em>, the causative agent of equine strangles, produces an acute pyrexia, purulent lymphadenopathy of submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Commonly, lymph node abscesses rupture and resolve without complication. Rarely, complications may include: dissemination of the bacteria with diffuse abscess formation, immune mediated disease (purpura haemorrhagica), rarely abscess formation within the central nervous system (CNS) can occur. These can be managed medically with appropriate antibiotics and drugs to reduce intra-cranial pressure, however surgical drainage and debulking of the abscess has been attempted successfully in a few cases.

During a strangles outbreak within a herd of minature horses, a six week old foal developed acute onset clinical signs of sepsis and neurological deficits. The foal was euthanized and submitted for post-mortem at the Animal Health Laboratories, Guelph Ontario. Gross post-mortem examination noted severe bronchopneumonia, hypopyon of the right eye and a singular cerebellar peduncle abscess. Culture of the lungs and cerebellum produced a pure growth of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi. Streptococcus equi ssp. equi, the causative agent of equine strangles, produces an acute pyrexia, purulent lymphadenopathy of submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Commonly, lymph node abscesses rupture and resolve without complication. Rarely, complications may include: dissemination of the bacteria with diffuse abscess formation, immune mediated disease (purpura haemorrhagica), rarely abscess formation within the central nervous system (CNS) can occur. These can be managed medically with appropriate antibiotics and drugs to reduce intra-cranial pressure, however surgical drainage and debulking of the abscess has been attempted successfully in a few cases