Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Maternal allogeneic cancellous bone graft for the treatment of osteitis along the physeal scar of the proximal metatarsus in a foal.
- Journal:
- Veterinary surgery : VS
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Sauer, Fay J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Clinic for Horses · Germany
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A neonatal Quarter Horse foal had a serious injury that exposed a bone in its leg, leading to an infection called septic osteitis. After the vet cleaned the wound and treated the infection, there was still a large gap in the bone that needed to be filled to prevent future fractures. To fix this, they used a special type of bone graft taken from the foal's mother. Fortunately, there were no problems with the graft, and after a month, the wound healed well. By the time the foal was checked again at 6, 12, and 21 months, it was walking and trotting normally, and the bone looked healthy, showing that the treatment was successful.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the treatment and outcome of a foal with a fresh allogenic cancellous bone graft after surgical debridement of a traumatic septic osteitis. ANIMAL: A neonatal Quarter Horse foal. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: The foal sustained a traumatic laceration exposing the proximal third metatarsal bone. One week after surgical debridement and closure, radiographic signs of septic osteitis were noted along the physeal scar. The lesion was debrided, and antimicrobial therapy was implemented. The infection resolved but left a large defect in the metaphysis and epiphysis. Grafting was indicated to avoid pathologic fractures of the plantar and proximal cortices. Due to a discrepancy between defect size and the bone stock of the foal, an allogeneic cancellous bone graft was harvested from the dam's tuber coxae and used to fill the foal's defect. RESULTS: No adverse reactions to the graft were noted. After 1 month, the wound had healed. Radiographic examination was consistent with graft incorporation in the bone structure. The foal was sound at a walk and trot when examined at 6, 12, and 21 months. The bone's contour was even and its structure homogeneously radio dense. The surgical site of the mare healed without complications. CONCLUSION: Fresh allogenic cancellous bone grafting resulted in the healing of a large traumatic-septic bone defect in a foal, with an excellent functional and cosmetic outcome. For future use, compatibility testing should be considered prior to allogeneic bone grafting.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36541337/