Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgical treatment of subchondral cyst-like lesions in the tibia of an adult pony.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1996
- Authors:
- Ball, M A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Large Animal Medicine · United States
Plain-English summary
A 13-year-old pony was brought in because it suddenly started limping on its right back leg. Initial X-rays of the leg looked normal, but a special imaging test showed some problems. Nine months later, X-rays revealed two abnormal fluid-filled areas in the lower part of the pony's leg bone. The vet performed surgery to relieve these lesions, and a year later, the pony was walking normally again. The issue was likely caused by an injury that led to damage in the cartilage, allowing these cyst-like areas to form.
Abstract
A 13 year-old pony was evaluated because of right hind limb lameness of acute onset. Radiographs of the right tarsus obtained shortly after the onset of lameness were normal, but results of nuclear scintigraphy were abnormal. Two radiolucent subchondral cyst-like lesions of the distal part of the tibia were seen on radiographs obtained 9 months later. The lesions were surgically decompressed, and the pony was sound 1 year later. It is hypothesized that a traumatic insult created a crack or split in the articular cartilage that allowed subsequent development of the cyst-like lesions.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8617627/