Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Osteitis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones in horses: eight cases (1993-1999).
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2001
- Authors:
- Dabareiner, R M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looked at eight horses with a condition called osteitis, which is inflammation of the bone, specifically at the edges of the proximal sesamoid bones in their legs. Some horses had an infection, while others did not, but all showed signs of lameness that lasted a long time. The researchers used various tests, including imaging and anesthesia, to pinpoint the problem, and they found damage to the ligaments and soft tissues around the bones. After surgery, most of the horses, including those without an infection, were able to return to their normal activities. Overall, the treatment seemed to work well for these horses.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical, radiographic, and scintigraphic abnormalities in and outcome of horses with septic or nonseptic osteitis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 8 horses. PROCEDURE: Data collected from medical records included signalment; history; horse use; severity and duration of lameness; results of perineural anesthesia, radiography, ultrasonography, and scintigraphy; and outcome following surgery. RESULTS: Five horses did not have any evidence of sepsis; the other 3 had sepsis of the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint or the digital synovial sheath. All horses had a history of chronic unilateral lameness. Three of 5 horses improved after diagnostic anesthesia of the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint; the other 2 improved only after diagnostic anesthesia of the digital synovial sheath. Nuclear scintigraphy was beneficial in localizing the source of the lameness to the proximal sesamoid bones in 4 horses. Arthroscopy of the palmar or plantar pouch of the joint or of the digital synovial sheath revealed intersesamoidean ligament damage and osteomalacia of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones in all horses. All 5 horses without sepsis and 1 horse with sepsis returned to their previous uses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that osteitis of the axial border of the proximal sesamoid bones is a distinct entity in horses that typically is associated with inflammation of the associated metacarpointersesamoidean or metatarsointersesamoidean ligament and may be a result of sepsis or nonseptic inflammation. Arthroscopic debridement may allow horses without evidence of sepsis to return to their previous level of performance.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11439777/