foal gait abnormalities

Flexural limb deformities

·    FL > HL

·    Congenital hyperextension – elevated toe, sunken fetlock

o  Usually self-resolves, if not then glue on heel extension shoes

o  Consequences: dystocia in dam, prevent foal standing

·    Congenital hyperflexion

o  Large dose of oxytetracycline, toe extensions and heel reduction with NSAIDs, or splits/casts

·    Acquired hyperflexion – due to pain (rapid bone growth, injury e.g. fracture, abscess, OC)

o  Treatment: toe extension and heel reduction with NSAIDs, reduce growth rate by reducing nutrition, or surgical management

Incomplete ossification of cuboidal bones

·    Commonly affected: carpus – radial, intermediate, ulnar, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, tarsus – central, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th

·    Causes: premature/dysmature foals (ossification occurs last 2-3m gestation), placentitis, colic, abnormal positioning during gestation

·    Diagnosis: clinical signs, radiography (round edges)

·    Management: should ossify within couple of weeks, restrict exercise to prevent damage, repeat radiographs

Angular limb deformities

·    Valgus – deviates out

·    Varus – deviates in

·    Causes:

o  Congenital – incomplete ossification of cuboidal bones, uterine malpositioning, periarticular laxity (collateral ligaments too loose)

o  Acquired – asymmetrical growth across physis (physitis, direct trauma)

·    Management:

o  Congenital: due to incomplete ossification – box rest, if due to periarticular laxity – box rest with controlled exercise

o  Acquired: valgus – trim lateral hoof wall, extend medial, varus – trim medial hoof wall, extend lateral

o  Surgical treatment: scew/wire to inhibit growth on long side of limb (indicated if severe, or if conservative management has failed)

SAPO

·    Aetiology of joint sepsis: haematogenous or traumatic

·    Aetiology of osteomyelitis: infection post-fracture, haemtogenous spread (GIT, resp., umbilicus)

·    SAPO – septic arthritis, physitis and osteomyelitis

o  S-type = synovial origin, E-type = epiphysis, P-type = physis, T-type = tarsus

·    Diagnosis:

o  Synovial fluid analysis – turbid, dark yellow, incr. TP and WBC

§ Can do bacterial culture

o  Diagnostic imaging: radiography (see joint effusion, periosteal proliferation), U/S (identify joint effusion), CT, MRI

·    Treatment:

o  NSAIDs – provide analgesia and reduce inflammation

o  Broad spec abx until C+S results back (NOT TMPS – don’t work well in purulent)

o  Surgical treatment

§ Needle lavage (2 needles in joint, flush crystalloids in through one and suck out through other) – cheap but less effective

§ Arthroscopic lavage = gold standard