FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS OF THE RACING GREYHOUND .2.

Most pelvic limb injuries sustained by racing greyhounds are a result of the counterclockwise direction of racing. The central tarsal bone is one of the most frequently fractured bones in the pelvic limb because of the high compressive forces that are placed on the medial surface of the tarsus during racing. Central tarsal bone fractures lead to a loss of integrity of the medial buttress of the tarsus, which predisposes the other tarsal bones to injury. Similar to injuries of the thoracic limb, most pelvic limb injuries are distal to and include the tarsus. Because most injuries sustained by greyhounds are uncommon in other breeds, the orthopedic surgeon must have a good understanding of the anatomy of greyhounds and techniques used to repair pelvic limb injuries. Tarsal bone injuries as well as metatarsal and phalangeal injuries, which are commonly seen in the pelvic limb, are described. in addition, several unique as well as less common orthopedic injuries sustained by racing greyhounds and methods for repair of the various fractures are reviewed.