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Journal of veterinary science2007; 8(2); 201-203; doi: 10.4142/jvs.2007.8.2.201

Bilateral Polydactyly in a foal.

Abstract: The following case report describes the diagnosis and surgery of bilateral polydactyly of unknown origin in a colt. A 7-month-old Berber colt was referred for cosmetic and curative excision of supernumerary digits. Radiographic examination revealed bilateral polydactyly and welldeveloped first carpal bones. Surgery consisted of an osteotomy of both second metacarpal bones combined with an amputation of the supernumerary digits. The follow-up at 18 months after surgery revealed a sound horse with an excellent cosmetic outcome.
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Publication Date: 2007-05-24 PubMed ID: 17519577PubMed Central: PMC2872722DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2007.8.2.201Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research report covers the diagnosis and surgical procedure carried out on a seven-month-old Berber colt that had more than the usual number of fingers on each hand, a condition known as bilateral polydactyly. The extra digits were eventually removed through a process that involved bone cutting and digit amputation, which yielded great results in terms of the horse’s health and physical appearance.

Case Identification and Diagnosis

  • The study revolves around a case of bilateral polydactyly in a 7-month-old Berber colt. This condition refers to having more than the usual number of digits in both hands or feet. The case’s unique aspect lay in its origin, which was unidentified at the time of assessment.
  • The horse was brought forward for a cosmetic and curative excision – a surgical procedure to remove the additional digits.
  • Before initiating any surgical procedure, a radiographic examination was carried out. It was a necessary step to understand the layout and positioning of the bones to ensure the success of surgery and avoid unwanted complications.

Surgical Procedure

  • Upon confirming the presence of extra digits and well-developed first carpal bones (long bones in the colt’s front limbs), the surgical team went ahead with a specific procedure called the osteotomy. Performed on both the second metacarpal bones, the osteotomy entailed cutting the bone or removing sections of it.
  • Alongside this, an amputation of the supernumerary (extra) digits was also undertaken.

Result and Follow-up

  • Almost eighteen months post-operation, the team conducted a follow-up on the colt’s condition.
  • The results were astoundingly positive, as the colt was in sound health, showing no unwanted after-effects of the surgery. Furthermore, the cosmetic outcome was also highly satisfactory, with the horse showing excellent physical appearance minus the additional digits that initially needed attention.

Cite This Article

APA
Carstanjen B, Abitbol M, Desbois C. (2007). Bilateral Polydactyly in a foal. J Vet Sci, 8(2), 201-203. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2007.8.2.201

Publication

Journal of veterinary science
ISSN: 1229-845X
NlmUniqueID: 100964185
Country: Korea (South)
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Pages: 201-203

Researcher Affiliations

Carstanjen, Bianca
  • Clinique Equine, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d'Alfort, Maisons, Alfort Cedex, France. carstanjen@t-online.de
Abitbol, Marie
    Desbois, Christophe

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
      • Horse Diseases / surgery
      • Horses
      • Male
      • Osteotomy / veterinary
      • Polydactyly / diagnostic imaging
      • Polydactyly / surgery
      • Polydactyly / veterinary
      • Radiography

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 3 times.
      1. Rafati N, Andersson LS, Mikko S, Feng C, Raudsepp T, Pettersson J, Janecka J, Wattle O, Ameur A, Thyreen G, Eberth J, Huddleston J, Malig M, Bailey E, Eichler EE, Dalin G, Chowdary B, Andersson L, Lindgren G, Rubin CJ. Large Deletions at the SHOX Locus in the Pseudoautosomal Region Are Associated with Skeletal Atavism in Shetland Ponies. G3 (Bethesda) 2016 Jul 7;6(7):2213-23.
        doi: 10.1534/g3.116.029645pubmed: 27207956google scholar: lookup
      2. Baville E, Carstanjen B, Thomas-Cancian A, Calgaro A, Bonnet N, Tiret L, Gache V, Abitbol M. Inherited non-syndromic polydactyly in a Berber and Arabian-Berber horse family. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1511-1519.
        doi: 10.1111/evj.14472pubmed: 39853805google scholar: lookup
      3. Vincelette AR, Renders E, Scott KM, Falkingham PL, Janis CM. Hipparion tracks and horses' toes: the evolution of the equid single hoof. R Soc Open Sci 2023 Jun;10(6):230358.
        doi: 10.1098/rsos.230358pubmed: 37351494google scholar: lookup
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