Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bilateral patellar aplasia in a foal.
- Journal:
- Veterinary medicine and science
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Ludwig, Elsa K et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 2-day-old Cleveland Bay colt was taken to a veterinary emergency service because he was not nursing well and was limping on his right back leg. When the vets helped him stand, he couldn't straighten either of his back legs or put weight on them, and his right kneecap was out of place. X-rays showed that both kneecaps were poorly formed and not developed properly. Unfortunately, due to the serious issues with his legs and heart, the decision was made to humanely euthanize him. This case is notable because it describes a rare condition where both kneecaps were missing in a foal.
Abstract
A 2-day-old Cleveland Bay colt was referred to the Equine Emergency Service of the Farm Animal and Equine Veterinary Medical Center at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of decreased nursing behaviour and right hindlimb lameness of 2 days' duration. When assisted to stand, the foal was unable to extend either hindlimb or bear weight on the hindlimbs, the right patella was luxated laterally and unable to be reduced, and the foal assumed a crouched position. Stifle radiographs revealed minimal, heterogeneous, ill-defined ossification of both patellae. Due to the severity of the musculoskeletal defects, humane euthanasia was elected. Post-mortem examination identified a congenital malformation of both patella bones with failure of ossification and cardiac changes suggestive of right atrioventricular valve dysplasia. Histology of the patellae showed no evidence of osteoid deposition or ossification. To our knowledge, bilateral congenital patellar aplasia has not been previously described in foals.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36734120/