Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gelding with leg pain after surgery - what could it be?
By Archer, D C et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2004·Philip Leverhulme Hospital for Large Animals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Septic tenosynovitis of the tarsal sheath of an Arab gelding and suspected sepsis of the lateral digital flexor tendon subsequent to bacterial peritonitis.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 21-year-old Arab gelding developed severe abdominal pain due to a perforated ulcer, which led to bacterial contamination in his abdomen. After surgery to remove the damaged intestine, he was given antibiotics and fluids. Unfortunately, four days later, he started limping on his right hind leg, and tests showed he had a serious infection in a tendon. Despite treatment, the infection worsened and spread, ultimately leading to the difficult decision to euthanize him.
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Abstract
A 21-year-old Arab gelding with clinical signs of acute peritonitis had a perforating ulcer on the mesenteric border of the jejunum which resulted in localised contamination of the abdomen with ingesta. The affected segment of jejunum was resected and the abdomen was lavaged extensively. Postoperatively, the gelding was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and intravenous fluids, but after four days it became acutely non-weight bearing on its right hindlimb, and a tendonitis of the lateral digital flexor tendon within the tarsal sheath was identified ultrasonographically. The septic tendonitis was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics but progressed proximodistally within the tendon until it involved both the tarsal sheath and the associated tarsocrural joint, necessitating the euthanasia of the gelding.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15537143/